NEHEMIAH 1:1 Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem to Rebuild Its Walls. This section recounts Nehemiah’s vision for and first efforts in rebuilding Jerusalem. He learns of Jerusalem’s decaying condition (Nehemiah 1:1), gains permission to rebuild the city, inspects its walls (Nehemiah 2:1), and endures the... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:2 HANANI, ONE OF MY BROTHERS. See also Nehemiah 7:2. CAME WITH CERTAIN MEN. It is not known whether these men were residents of Jerusalem or of Persia. The nature of their mission is also unknown. THE JEWS WHO ESCAPED, WHO HAD SURVIVED THE EXILE. This, along with THE REMN... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:4 WEPT AND MOURNED. Compare Ezra 9:4; Ezra 10:1. GOD OF HEAVEN was a way of referring to God in international contexts (see Ezra 1:2; Ezra 5:12). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:5 O LORD GOD OF HEAVEN. This combination of names means that the God of Israel (Exodus 3:13) is the only God. KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. See Deuteronomy 7:9. Steadfast love is God’s faithfulness to Israel in his co... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:6 Nehemiah’s use of “servant” for himself (YOUR SERVANT) and Israel (YOUR SERVANTS) is significant since he is also a servant of King Artaxerxes. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:7 THE COMMANDMENTS, THE STATUTES, AND THE RULES. See note on Ezra 7:10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:9 IF YOU RETURN TO ME. Nehemiah appeals to God’s promise that, if Israel repented, he would restore them to the land and prosperity (Leviticus 26:40; Deuteronomy 4:29; Deuteronomy 30:1). While many of God’s people have returned from exile, the land is not yet secure. THE... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:10 REDEEMED BY YOUR GREAT POWER AND BY YOUR STRONG HAND refers to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 7:1; compare Deuteronomy 4:34). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 1:11 FEAR YOUR NAME. On “fearing” God, see note on Prov. 1:7 and other verses mentioned there. God’s “name” here represents God’s character and all that he is. MERCY IN THE SIGHT OF THIS MAN (Artaxerxes). Nehemiah knows that God can move powerful people to act in favor of h... [ Continue Reading ]