Bible: Beginning to End - Nehemiah

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello and welcome back to Bible beginning to end, where we are reading through the scriptures together from Genesis to Revelation. I'm so glad you're here with me on this journey, and I'm excited to start our next book of the Bible. As always, I will be reading through the scriptures with you, and I will be stopping along the way to ask critical thinking questions about what we are reading. I'll give you a little bit of background on the book, But I won't answer these questions because this is a time for you to sit and reflect and pray about God's word and see what he is telling you about the words you're reading. And hopefully you'll gain a better understanding of the Bible as a whole story. For this episode, I am using the Berean Standard Bible translation.

Starting point is 00:00:51 And if you want to read or follow along, I always link in the description of every episode to the readings that correspond with this episode. So last time we read the book of Ezra. And I talked about at the beginning of the last episode that Ezra and Nehemiah, which is the book we're reading today, were at one point one unified book. Because the two stories really go together. They deal with the same time period. They deal with some of the same issues. They are kind of one cohesive story.

Starting point is 00:01:25 Now Ezra was written by Ezra. Nehemiah is written by Nehemiah. but Ezra shows up in the book of Nehemiah. And they both deal with the people of Israel, the people of God, returning from exile back to Jerusalem. In Ezra, we saw them rebuild the temple, and that was sort of the first half of the book, and then the second half of the book dealt with the issue of God's people

Starting point is 00:01:52 marrying pagan women, and we talked about that issue and how Ezra handled that. So Ezra was leading the people in Jerusalem, and leading them through that time of rebuilding the temple. Well, as time went on, Jerusalem, they had the temple, they were rebuilding that, but they were facing enemies surrounding Jerusalem. And so they needed to figure out a way to make Jerusalem secure. And that's where God sends Nehemiah and raises him up as a leader.

Starting point is 00:02:24 And that's where this book starts with Nehemiah coming in as a leader to help secure Jerusalem. And similarly to the second half of Ezra, this book is written in the first person, which tells us that it was probably written by Nehemiah, and it's him recording his account of what happened in Jerusalem at this time. Okay, so now we can get started with the book of Nehemiah,

Starting point is 00:02:52 and we'll start with Nehemiah chapter 1, and the first section is called Nehemiah's Prayer. And before we start this chapter, I just want to make a note that Deuteronomy 30, 1 through 10, if you want to go back and read that, is connected to this time period because in Deuteronomy 30 at the beginning of that chapter verses 1 through 10, Moses is telling the Israelites that there is a day that will come when you will be exiled and God will bring you back to your home and will fulfill his promises. and this time period where Nehemiah is right now is sort of the fulfillment of that promise that God made to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 31 through 10. So Nehemiah, chapter 1, verse 1. These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Haqalia. In the month of Kislev, in the 20th year, when I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani,

Starting point is 00:03:55 one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. so I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. And they told me, The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.

Starting point is 00:04:19 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Then I said, O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of a loving devotion with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, your servant, now pray before you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned. we have behaved corruptly against you

Starting point is 00:04:59 and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that you gave your servant, Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that you commanded your servant Moses when you said, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and keep and practice my commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there

Starting point is 00:05:29 and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name. They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and mighty hand. O Lord, may your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of your servants

Starting point is 00:05:48 who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success this day, I pray, grant him mercy in the sight of this man. At that time, I was the cup bearer to the king. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter one. What did we learn about Nehemiah in this chapter? Who he was, what his role was among the community,

Starting point is 00:06:15 and what type of person he was? And then what issue did Nehemiah discover that he felt like he needed to take to the Lord in prayer? Why was Jerusalem such a precious city at this time that it needed to be protected? When Nehemiah found out that the walls had fallen down around Jerusalem and were in disrepair, he saw this as something that needed to be fixed. Why do you think this was such a big deal at the time? It's always important to look at the Bible in the historical context of when it was written,

Starting point is 00:06:57 and why would walls around their city be important? during the time of the Bible, during the time that they were living in Jerusalem. In modern times, we don't really see, or it's not as common to see walls around places like it was during the Bible times. So why was it something that was so common back during that time? And why do you think it was important to this community? What did it symbolize to the people around them? What did it symbolize to the people living in Jerusalem? Why do you think that this was something that seemed to be important to them?

Starting point is 00:07:38 And then we also have in this chapter, Nehemiah praying to God. And I'm curious what you took away from his prayer. It says that he fasted and prayed for several days. And I want you to think about the way he prayed to God, how he approached God, how he asked for forgiveness, how he asked for what they needed, and how you can sort of learn about prayer through watching Nehemiah, or reading or listening to Nehemiah pray. Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 2, which begins with a section called Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2, verse 1. Now in the month of Nissen, in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him,

Starting point is 00:08:29 I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, so the king said to me, Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart. I was overwhelmed with fear, and replied to the king, May the king live forever. Why should I not be sad when the city, where my fathers are buried, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?

Starting point is 00:08:59 What is your request? replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king. If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried

Starting point is 00:09:16 so that I may rebuild it. Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, how long will your journey take, and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me, and I said a time. I also said to him, if it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.

Starting point is 00:09:42 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy. And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and

Starting point is 00:10:09 cavalry with me. But when Sanbalot, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the Ammonite official, heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites. Okay, so pause there at the end

Starting point is 00:10:25 of that section. We have Nehemiah, who is also living during the time of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah is still in Persia, but just like in Ezra, Artaxerxes sent a group of people to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. And now Artaxerxes is sending Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. And so we have Ezra going to Jerusalem first and then Nehemiah coming after to rebuild the wall, although there is some debate about the timeline of things. Some people think that Nehemiah was actually the first one to go to Jerusalem

Starting point is 00:11:05 and that Ezra came after. But the way it's structured and presented to us here, it seems as if Ezra went first. And then years later, Nehemiah was called to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. So from this section, what can you learn about who Nehemiah was and why the king trusted him enough

Starting point is 00:11:28 to send him, to let him leave his service of the king in Persia and travel to Jerusalem. And again, we see Nehemiah going to God in prayer before even asking the king what he needed. So what does that teach us about how we should interact with God when we need to make important decisions or go down a new path? And then why do you think at the end of this section, he says that Sanbalat, the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite heard about what he was doing and were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites. Why would they be disturbed?

Starting point is 00:12:13 Who are these people? And why do you think there would be some people out there who would be disturbed that someone wanted to help the Israelites? The next section is Nehemiah inspects the walls. Verse 11. After I had arrived in Jerusalem, it had been there three days. I set out at night with a few men. I did not tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem.

Starting point is 00:12:40 The only animal with me was the one on which I was riding. So I went out at night through the valley gate, toward the well of the serpent, and the dung gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the fountain gate and the king's pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through. so I went up the valley by night and inspected the wall.

Starting point is 00:13:08 Then I headed back and re-entered through the valley gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers. Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer, be a disgrace. Okay, so pause there. Why the secrecy? Why do you think Nehemiah went out to inspect the gate

Starting point is 00:13:42 before he even brought any information or any ideas to the officials and the priests? And when he takes his survey of the walls and the gates, he finds them in ruins, some burned by fire. So why is it important to rebuild the city? What might it signify to the surrounding people, or even to the people within the city, if their city lies in ruins? What would that do to the people's spirits who are living there? Verse 18, I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. Let us start rebuilding, they replied, and they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanbalat, the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Gasham, the Arab, heard about this? They mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, what is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?

Starting point is 00:14:47 So I answered them and said, The God of heaven is the one who will grant us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 2. What does it tell us about this community that when Nehemiah brought this issue to them, they immediately started working and they immediately set out to rebuild the walls. And then we have the people outside of the Israelites who are ridiculing them and saying, why are you doing this? This isn't going to work.

Starting point is 00:15:27 Do you even have permission from the king? Why do you think they're ridiculing them? why do you think they're treating them this way? And then what about Nehemiah's response? We know that Nehemiah has permission from the king because Artaxerxes sent him and allowed him to go accomplish this task. But does he tell the people who are mocking him that?

Starting point is 00:15:53 Does he tell them that he already has permission from the king? Why do you think instead of telling them that he has permission from the king, Nehemiah's response is to let them know, that God is the one who will grant them success. And does this remind you of some of the parts of Ezra's story from the last book that we read? If you go back to chapter four, there's an entire section about people and enemies of Judah trying to stop them from rebuilding the temple, trying to bribe them, going to the king,

Starting point is 00:16:32 because they were opposed to Ezra and the Israelites rebuilding the temple. So how do we see something similar here? in Nehemiah's story. Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 3, which begins with a section called the Builders of the Walls. Chapter 3, verse 1. At the sheep gate, Elie Ashib, the high priest, and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors.

Starting point is 00:17:02 After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Honanel, they dedicated the wall. The men of Jericho built next to Elia Sheet. and Zekir, son of Emory, built next to them. The fish gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hasana. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Next to them, Miramoth, son of Yuraya, the son of Hakas, made repairs. Next to him, Meshalam, son of Barakaya, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs.

Starting point is 00:17:38 And next to him, Zadok, son of Bhazhezhak, son of Bhazepa. Anna made repairs as well. Next to him, the Techoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. The Jashana Gate was repaired by Joida, son of Pasea, and Meschelam, son of Bessudaya. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Next to them, repairs were made by Melitaya the Gibbonite, Jaden, the Maranathite, and the men of Gibbyan and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor

Starting point is 00:18:17 of the region west of the Euphrates. Next to them, Oseal, son of Harhaya, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs, and next to him, Hananiah, son of the perfumer, made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the broad wall. Next to them, Raphya, son of her, ruler of a half district of Jerusalem, made repairs. Next to him, Jeddaya, son of Haramaf, made repairs across from his house, and next to him, Hattush, son of Hashabanaia, made repairs. Malkidja, son of Haram, and Hashub, son of Pahoth Moab, repaired another section, as well as the tower of the ovens. And next to them, Shalom, son of Halahesh, ruler of the other half district of Jerusalem, made repairs with the help of his daughters.

Starting point is 00:19:13 The valley gate was repaired by Hanan and the residents of Zenoa. They rebuilt it, installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the dung gate. The dung gate was repaired by Malkicha, son of Rekob, ruler of the district of Beth Hockerum. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. The fountain gate was repaired by Shalum, son of Kahl Haza, ruler of the district of Mizpa. He rebuilt it, roofed it, and installed its doors bolts and bars. He also repaired the wall of the pool of Sheila, near the king's garden, as far as the stairs

Starting point is 00:19:59 that descend from the city of David. Beyond him, Nehemiah, son of Osbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zer, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty. Okay, so pause there at about the halfway point in chapter three. So chapter three is all about them rebuilding the walls, rebuilding and fortifying the city. And we have a lot of names,

Starting point is 00:20:30 and we have a lot of this person built next to this person, built next to this person and this place, and we have a lot of information about what they did and how they all repaired the wall. So why is it important that we know the names of these specific people and what they did and how they contributed? Why can't Chapter 3 just say, and they rebuilt the walls and everything was back to normal? Or they rebuilt the walls and Jerusalem was safe again. Why do they go into so much detail, and why is it important that the Old Testament and the Bible in general have these details of specific names, people, and what they did?

Starting point is 00:21:07 Okay, chapter 3, verse 17. Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rahum's son of Bonnie, and next to him, Hashibaya, ruler of a half district of Kila, made repairs for his district. Next to him, their countrymen made repairs under Ben-Wee, son of Hennedad, ruler of the other half-district of Kila. And next to him, Ezr, son of Jesua, ruler of Mizpa, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the army. near the angle in the wall.

Starting point is 00:21:44 Next to him, Baruch, son of Zabai, diligently repaired another section, from the angle to the doorway of the house of Elie Ashib, the high priest. Next to him, Merrimath, son of Uriah, the son of Hakas, repaired another section

Starting point is 00:22:00 from the doorway of the house of Elia Shib to the end of the house, and next to him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs. Beyond them, Benjamin and Heshub, made repairs in front of their house and next to them. Azaria, son of Maasya, the son of Ananaya, made repairs beside his house. After him, Ben-Wee, son of Hennedad, repaired another section from the house of Zaria to the angle

Starting point is 00:22:27 and the corner. And Pallal, son of his eye, made repairs opposite the angle and the tower that juts out from the upper palace of the king near the courtyard of the guard. Next to him, Padaya, son of Parash, and the temple servants living on the hill of Offel, made repairs opposite the water gate toward the east, and the tower that juts out. And next to them, the Techoites repaired another section from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Offle. Above the horse gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.

Starting point is 00:23:06 Next to them, Zadok, son of Emmer, made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah, son of Shekinaya, the guard of the east gate, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah, son of Shalamaya, as well as Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaf, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshalam, son of Barakaya, made repairs opposite his own quarters. Next to him, Malchija, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants opposite the inspection gate and as far as the upper room above the corner. And between the upper room above the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.

Starting point is 00:23:54 Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter three. As we read through that chapter and saw how everyone and each person contributed to repairing the wall, what did we learn about the community? How did we see each group or each person taking responsibility for their own section of the wall and working together to complete this task that they all believed in? What can that teach us about community now and about how we should work together to fulfill our goals and to help each other out and to fulfill the things that God has called us as a community to do?

Starting point is 00:24:45 Okay, so now we can start Neummel. Maya 4, which begins with a section called The Work Ridiculed. Chapter 4 verse 1 Now when Sambalat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews before his associates and the army of Samaria saying, What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices?

Starting point is 00:25:15 Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble? Okay, so pause there. Who is Sambalat and why is he ridiculing the Jews and the work that they're doing? Verse three. Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, If even a fox were to climb on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones. Hear us, oh God, for we are despond.

Starting point is 00:25:49 turn their scorn back upon their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked the builders. So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together, up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. when Sondbalat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs Ammonites, and Ashtadites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed. They were furious, and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance. Okay, so pause there. We have this group, these groups of people ridiculing.

Starting point is 00:26:45 the work that the Jews are doing, that Nehemiah and the other people living in Jerusalem are doing. But how did God's people overcome that ridicule and continue to work? What drove them to keep doing the work that they were doing? And why are all these groups conspiring to fight against Jerusalem? The next section is discouragement, overcome. Verse 9. so we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night. Meanwhile, the people of Judah said,

Starting point is 00:27:26 The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall. And our enemies said, Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work. At that time, the Jews who lived near, by came and told us ten times over. Wherever you turn, they will attack us.

Starting point is 00:27:54 So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your homes. When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.

Starting point is 00:28:36 And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spirit, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other, and each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, the work is great and extensive, and we are spread.

Starting point is 00:29:12 spread out far from one another along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the horn rally to us there, our God will fight for us. So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. At that time, I also said to the people, let every man and his servant

Starting point is 00:29:37 spend the night inside Jerusalem so that they can stand guard, by night and work by day. So neither I nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the guards with me, changed out of our clothes, each carried his weapon even to go for water. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter four. How did Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem respond to the ridicule and the threats from the people outside of their community?

Starting point is 00:30:10 and do you think their plan worked? Do you think they came up with a good plan to protect themselves while they continued the work they needed to do? And what does it tell you about Nehemiah that he was one of the people standing guard? He was also doing the work with them. Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah Chapter 5,

Starting point is 00:30:37 which begins with a section called Nehemiah, Defends the Oppressed. Nehemiah 5, verse 1. About that time, there was a great outcry from the people, people and their wives against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, we and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive. Others were saying, we are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine. Still others were saying, we have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just

Starting point is 00:31:12 like our countrymen and their children. Yet we are subjecting our sons. and daughters, to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others. When I heard their outcry, and these complaints, I became extremely angry, and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials saying,

Starting point is 00:31:40 you are exacting usury from your own brothers. So I called a large assembly against them and said, We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners. But now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us. But they remain silent, for they could find nothing to say. Okay, so pause there. One quick thing I want to say is that in verse 7,

Starting point is 00:32:11 Nehemiah tells them, you are exacting usury from your own brothers. That word usury, US UR-Y, if you haven't heard that word before, the definition is the illegal action or practice of lending money at an unnecessarily high rate of interest. So what are these people doing? What is going on in the community right now?

Starting point is 00:32:34 How are they treating each other? And why is Nehemiah so angry? Verse 9. So I continued, What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.

Starting point is 00:33:02 Please. Restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them. We will restore it, they replied, and we will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say. So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, May God likewise shake out of his house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing.

Starting point is 00:33:43 The whole assembly said, amen, and they praised the Lord, and the people did as they had promised. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. So the situation that's going on is we have some rich people in the community who are taking advantage of those who have less. They would give out these loans, and then when people couldn't pay, they would take over their land and charge really high interest rates and treat the people who could not afford to pay very poorly. So what was Nehemiah's response to this? And why was Nehemiah so angry about it? When we are blessed with a lot of resources, how does God want us to treat those who don't have as many resources as we do?

Starting point is 00:34:39 What does this story reveal to us about how we as Christians as people who follow God should take care of each other, how we should treat each other, how we should do business, how we should care for those who are less fortunate? We see many times throughout Scripture about how God tells us to take care of the poor and the oppressed, the widows, the children, etc., and we see many times throughout Scripture about how God tells us to take care of the poor and the poor and the oppressed, we see here Nehemiah upholding that desire that God puts in his people's hearts. And another action that we see in this section is Nehemiah seeing injustice within God's community and going to the people who are causing harm and imploring them to stop. He's standing up for the oppressed. So how can we take Nehemiah's example in our own lives and protect or help the people in our own churches, in our own communities, in our own families, or being oppressed or experiencing situations like this,

Starting point is 00:35:58 or situations in our own lives that God would see as an injustice? The next section is Nehemiah's generosity, verse 14. Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed, me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his 20th year until his 32nd year, 12 years total. Neither I, nor my brothers, ate the food allotted to the governor. The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from their bread and wine plus 40 shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall,

Starting point is 00:36:47 and all my servants were gathered there for the work. We did not acquire any land. There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. Each day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days, an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. Remember me favorably, oh my God, for all that I have done for this people. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 5. What do we learn about Nehemiah's generosity and his humility as a leader?

Starting point is 00:37:33 We saw the people come to Nehemiah and say, we're hungry. We don't have enough food we're being taken advantage of. And so instead, like the governor's before him, instead of taking all this food that was given to the governor because of his status, he denied that so that he could give to his people who were in need. So what does that tell us about what a godly leader should be? When we are put in positions of leadership, whether we are bosses at work, leaders of offense,

Starting point is 00:38:11 family, leaders of a church, leaders of a city, leaders of a country, leaders of a state. What should our priority be? Should our priority be the status and taking and using resources that we don't need for ourselves? Or should it be leading with humility? Following God, listening to him, and taking care of the people that we're have been entrusted to us? What was Nehemiah's main focus as a leader? And do you think his qualities made him a strong leader or not? Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 6, which begins with a section called Sambalad's conspiracy. Chapter 6, verse 1. When Sambalat, Tobiah, Geshem, the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was

Starting point is 00:39:17 left. Though to that time I had not yet installed the doors and the gates, Sambalat and Gresham sent me this message. Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono. But they were planning to harm me. So I sent messengers to them saying, I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you? Four times they sent me the same message,

Starting point is 00:39:46 and each time I gave the same reply. The fifth time, Samblatt sent me the same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter that read. It is reported among the nations, and Gashem agrees, that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports,

Starting point is 00:40:09 you are to become their king. And you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf. There is a king in Judah. Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together. Then I sent him this reply. There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading.

Starting point is 00:40:29 You are inventing them in your own mind. For they were all trying to frighten us, saying their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished. but now my God, strengthen my hands. Okay, so pause there. Why are these men trying to attack Nehemiah and trying to stop the work that they're doing?

Starting point is 00:40:53 And what strategies are they using to try to stop the work? And what does it tell us about Nehemiah that he sees through their tricks? Verse 10. Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah, son of Delaya, the son of Mechatabal, who was confined to his house. He said,

Starting point is 00:41:19 let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you. By night they are coming to kill you. But I replied, Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life?

Starting point is 00:41:36 I will not go. I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Samblat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me. Oh, my God. Remember Tobiah and Sanblot for what they have done, and also Nodaya, the prophetess, and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me. Okay, so pause there. We have more people conspiring against Nehemiah.

Starting point is 00:42:13 But how does Nehemiah have the way? wisdom to see through their lives and to see what they're actually planning. The next section is completion of the wall, verse 15. So the wall was completed in 52 days, on the 25th of Elul. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God. Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters, to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came back to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him,

Starting point is 00:42:55 since he was a son-in-law of Shekinaya, son of Ara. And his son, Jehoanan, had married the daughter of Mechalam, son of Barakaya. Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah's good deeds, and they relayed my words to him, and Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. Okay, so pause. there at the end of chapter 6 and just reflect on the work that has been done. The wall has been completed. So what does that mean for the people of God? What does that mean for the Israel community? And why is this so significant to them?

Starting point is 00:43:35 Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 7, which begins with a section called securing the city. Nehemi 7 verse 1. When the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, The gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. Then I put my brother, Hanani, in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

Starting point is 00:44:04 And I told them, Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened, and appoint the residence of Jerusalem as guards. some at their posts and some at their own homes. Okay, so pause there at the end of that little section. Why do you think Nehemiah gives this order not to open the gates until the sun is hot?

Starting point is 00:44:34 Okay, the next section is the list of returning exiles. And this is going to be a long list of names, so just prepare yourselves for that. But this is a pretty much identical or very similar list to the one that's listed in Ezra, too. So you can kind of look at those. two sections and compare them. So this section is called the list of returning exiles, Nehemiah 7 verse 4. Now the city was large and spacious,

Starting point is 00:45:01 but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. Then my God put into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. I found the genealogical register of those who had first returned, and I found the following written in it. Okay, so pause there.

Starting point is 00:45:23 It says that Nehemiah found this genealogical record. So if it's similar or identical to the one that Ezra lists and Ezra 2, who do you think wrote this genealogical register? Where do you think he found it and who wrote it in the first place? Verse 6. These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, accompanied by Zerubabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azaria, Raamia, Nahamene, Mordecai, Bilschen, Mizpareth, Big Vai, Nehum, and Baana. This is the Count of the Men of Israel.

Starting point is 00:46:13 The descendants of Parash, 2172, the descendants of Sheffataya, 372, The descendants of Ara, 652, the descendants of Paath, Moab, through the line of Jesua and Joab, 2,818, the descendants of Elam, 1,254, the descendants of Zitu, 845, the descendants of Zhaai, 760, the descendants of Benhui, 648, the descendants of Bibi, 628, the descendants of Bibi, 628, The descendants of Osgid, 2,322. The descendants of Adonikim, 667. The descendants of Big Vai, 20067. The descendants of Aden, 655.

Starting point is 00:47:06 The descendants of Otter, through Hezekiah, 98. The descendants of Hashim, 328. The descendants of Baza'i, 324. The descendants of Harif, 112. The descendants of Gipion, 95. The men of Bethlehem and Natofa, 188. The men of Anatheth, 128. The men of Beth Osmaveth, 42.

Starting point is 00:47:35 The men of Kyriath Jerram, Kaffira, and Beareth, 743. The men of Rama and Geba, 621. The men of McMash, 122. The men of Bethel and I, 123. The men of the other Nibo, 52. The descendants of the other Elam, 1,254. The descendants of Haram, 320. The men of Jericho, 345.

Starting point is 00:48:08 The men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. And the descendants of Sana'a, 3,000. 930. The priests, the descendants of Jada, through the house of Jeshua, 973. The descendants of Emmer, 152, the descendants of Pasha, 1,247, and the descendants of Haram, 1017. The Levites, the descendants of Jesua, through Codmiel, through the line of Hodeva, 74. The singers, the descendants of Asaf, 148, the gatekeepers, the descendants of Shalom, the descendants of Otter, the descendants of Talman, the descendants of Akub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138 and all, the temple servants, the descendants of Zheha, the descendants of Hasafah, the descendants

Starting point is 00:49:08 of Tabayoth, the descendants of Keras, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padan, the descendants of Lebanon, the descendants of Hagaba, the descendants of Shomai, the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Gidel, the descendants of Ghaar, the descendants of Raya, the descendants of Reza, the descendants of Meunem, the descendants of Ghasm, the descendants of Uza, the descendants of Pasea, the descendants of Bessai, the descendants of Mayunem, the descendants of Nefeshazim, the descendants of Bokbuk, the descendants of Hakifa, the descendants of horror, the descendants of Basleith, the descendants of Mahida, the descendants of Harsha, the descendants of Barcos, the descendants of Cicera, the descendants of Tima, the descendants of Niziah, and the

Starting point is 00:50:07 descendants of Hatifa, the descendants of the servants of Solomon, the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophrath, the descendants of Perida, the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkin, the descendants of Gidel, the descendants of Sheffataya, the descendants of Hateel, the descendants of Pocereth Hazabam, and the descendants of Amon. The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all. The following came up from Telmalal, Tel-Hol, Tel Kharcia, Kharub, Aden, and Emmer, but could not prove that their families were descended from Israel. The descendants of Delaya, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekota, 642 in all. And from among the priests, the descendants of Hobiah, the descendants of Hukuz, and the descendants of Barzalai,

Starting point is 00:51:08 who had married a daughter of Barzolai, the Gileadite, and was called by their name. These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them, and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and the Thumim. The whole assembly numbered 42,360, in addition to their 7,33737 men servants and maid servants, as well as their 245 male and female singers. 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. The next section is offerings by the exiles. Verse 70. Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project.

Starting point is 00:52:01 The governor gave the treasury 1,000 d'arics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the project, 20,000 d'ariks of gold and 2,200 menas of silver. The rest of the people gave a total of 20,000 d'ariks of gold, 2,000 menes of silver, and 67 priestly garments. So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.

Starting point is 00:52:38 And by the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns. is a pause there at the end of chapter 7 and reflect again on the amount of people who came back to Jerusalem after having been exiled under King Nebuchadnezzar and how they must feel coming back to their home. And then why do you think some of the heads of families contributed to the project that was going on and gave money to help the project be completed? Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 8. This is going to be the first chapter where Ezra appears in Nehemiah, and it's going to start with a section called Ezra reads the law. And if you look back in Deuteronomy 31, 9 through 13, you see where Moses gives a commandment

Starting point is 00:53:30 that when you celebrate this certain festival, you should gather everyone together and read the law. And so that's what's going on in this section. So we can start with Nehemiah 8, verse 1 in the section Ezra reads the law. At that time, all the people gathered together in the square before the water gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men and women

Starting point is 00:54:03 and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon, as he faced the square before the water gate, in front of the men and women, and those who could understand, and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform, built for this occasion. At his right stood Matathaya, Shima, Anaya, Uriya, Hilkaya, and Maasya,

Starting point is 00:54:34 and at his left were Padaya, Michiel, Malchija, Hashim, Hashidana, Zechariah, and Mechalum. Okay, so pause there. Why do you think it's important and why do you think God gave this command to read the law aloud to the people? Every seven years, the community would get together and read God's law in the Swin's public way, with everybody gathered together to listen. So why is it important to be reminded of God's law? Why would it be important for people who have been a part of the community of Israel for a long time to hear these laws repeated. And why would this tradition be important for people new to the community of Israel, or children, or young people in the community? Today we can read the Bible any time we want. We have access to it. It's written down for us

Starting point is 00:55:37 in a language that we can understand. Was that the case for the people of Israel? Did every family have their own list of the laws? Were they kept only by the priests? Were they, were they, kept in a space where someone could go and look at them at any time, how did the people come to know the laws? Verse 5. Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all. And as he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people

Starting point is 00:56:15 said, Amen, amen. Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faith. to the ground. The Levites, Jesua, Boni, Sheribiah, Jarabaya, Jhub, Shavithai, Hodaya, Maasya, Kalita, Azaria, Josabad, Hanan, and Pallaya instructed the people in the law as they stood in their places. So they read from the book of the law of God explaining it and giving insight so that the people could understand what was being read. Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest, and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, This day is holy to the Lord your God.

Starting point is 00:56:58 Do not mourn or weep. For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the wall. The Nehemiah told them, Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve. For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Starting point is 00:57:21 And the Levites calmed all the people saying, Be still, since today is holy, do not grieve. Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them. Okay, so pause there, why do you think the people were weeping as Ezra read the law and these people taught the law to them?

Starting point is 00:57:49 And then, even though they were weeping and feeling these emotions, why do you think Ezra told them to not mourn or weep? And why did Nehemiah remind them of God's joy and the joy that he gives us? Because clearly the words of the law

Starting point is 00:58:09 affected the people of Israel. But Ezra and Nehemiah wanted to remind them that this is not a day for mourning, this is a day for joy, because that day was a holy day. So how could the people of Israel find joy among their mourning and their weeping. The next section is the Feast of Tabernacles.

Starting point is 00:58:33 Verse 13. On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra, the scribe, to study the words of the law. And they found written in the law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month. So they proclaimed this message, spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive,

Starting point is 00:59:02 wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths as it is written. And the people went out, brought back branches and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the water gate, and by the gate of Ephraim. The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua, son of none, until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this, and there was great rejoicing. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the book of the law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, they held an assembly according to the ordinance.

Starting point is 00:59:52 Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 8. What does it tell us about the people of Israel that on the second day, the heads of the families came together and decided to not just listen to the law, but to study the law? And then what did they discover from studying the law? And when they discovered this piece of the law that told them how to celebrate this festival, and they went out and told the people of Israel, hey, we need to build these booths. and then the people of Israel went out and gathered all the supplies and they built these booths. What effect do you think that moment had on the community of Israel? How do you think it brought them together? Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah, Chapter 9,

Starting point is 01:00:43 which begins with a section called The People Confess Their Sins. Nehemiah 9, verse 1. On the 24th day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth with dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the Lord their God. And the Levites, Jesua, Bonnie, Codmiel, Shabinaya, Boone, Sherebaya, Bonnie,

Starting point is 01:01:31 and Kanani stood on the raised platforms and cried out in a loud voice to the Lord their God. Then the Levites, Jesua, Codmiel, Bonnie, Hashabanaia, Sherebaya, Hodaya, Shabinaya, Shabinaya, and Pataya, said, stand up and bless the Lord your God from ever everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You created the heavens,

Starting point is 01:02:06 the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships you. You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.

Starting point is 01:02:28 You found his heart faithful before you and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Parasites, of the Jebusites and Gergesites, to give it to his descendants. You have kept your promise because you are righteous. You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt. You heard their cry at the Red Sea. You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,

Starting point is 01:02:58 all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for yourself that endures to this day. You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into red earth. raging waters. You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night,

Starting point is 01:03:29 to light for them the way in which they should travel. You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. You revealed to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through your servant, Moses. In their hunger, you gave them bread from heaven. In their thirst, you brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land, which you had sworn to give them.

Starting point is 01:04:08 But they, and our fathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey your commandments. They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders you performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt.

Starting point is 01:04:27 But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in loving devotion, and you did not forsake them. Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, This is your God who brought you up

Starting point is 01:04:44 out of Egypt. And when they committed terrible blasphemies, you and your great, compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day, the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path, and by night, the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. You gave your good spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For 40 years, you sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing.

Starting point is 01:05:20 Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and allotted to them every corner of the land, so they took the land of Sihon, king of Heshman, and of Og, king of Boshan. You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven, and brought them to the land you had told their fathers to enter,

Starting point is 01:05:47 and possess. So their descendants went in and possessed the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land

Starting point is 01:06:03 to do with them as they wished. They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in a So they ate and were filled.

Starting point is 01:06:20 They grew fat and delighted in your great goodness. But they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They flung your laws behind their backs. They killed your prophets who had admonished them to return to you. They committed terrible blasphemies. So you delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, them, and in their time of distress, they cried out to you. From heaven, you heard them, and in your great compassion, you gave them deliverers, who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

Starting point is 01:06:59 But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in your sight. So you abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and you delivered them many times in your compassion. You admonished them to turn back to your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances by which a man will live if he practices them. They stubbornly shrugged their shoulders. They stiffened their necks and would not obey. You were patient with them for many years, and your spirit admonished.

Starting point is 01:07:42 to them through your prophets. Yet they would not listen. So you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great compassion, you did not put an end to them. Nor did you forsake them, for you are a gracious and compassionate God. So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us

Starting point is 01:08:11 and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors, and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today, you are just in all that has befallen us because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly. Our kings and leaders and priests and fathers did not obey your law or listen to your commandments, and warnings that you gave them. for even while they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness that you had given them

Starting point is 01:08:45 and in the spacious and fertile land that you had set before them, they would not serve you or turn from their wicked ways. So here we are today as slaves, in the land you gave our fathers to enjoy its fruits and goodness. Here, we are as slaves. Its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have set over us because of our sins. and they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please.

Starting point is 01:09:13 We are in great distress. In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter nine. Why did the people gather together to confess their sins? And then we have this really long prayer, blessing, speech that's given. What parts of the history of Israel are covered during this prayer? And what are some of the major themes that are touched upon during this prayer?

Starting point is 01:10:03 What characteristics of God do we learn about through this prayer? Why was it important for the people of Israel, especially at the time during Nehomarch. Why was it important for them to remember God's faithfulness and remember where they had come from? During this prayer, we hear a lot of the history of Israel, especially the parts where Israel did not remain faithful to God, but God still remained faithful to them. Why is this something that is important for the people of Israel, especially during this time in Nehemiah? Why is this important for them to reflect on and to meditate on? And then what is the promise that the people make to God at the end of this chapter? Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 10, which begins with a section called signers of the covenant.

Starting point is 01:11:07 Chapter 10, verse 1. Now, these are the ones who sealed the document. Nehemiah, the governor, son of Hacalia, and also Zedekiah, Soraya, Sariah, Azaria, Jeremiah, Pashir, Amaria, Malkija, Hatush, Shabanaia, Malak, and Shemanaa, Malak, and Shemayah, Maram, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginathan, Baruch, Meshalam, Abijah, Mejima, Mejima, Maasya, Bilgai, and Shemiah. These were the priests. The Levites, Jeshua, son of Azania, Ben-Wee of the sons of Hinnad, Codniel, and their associates, Shabanaia, Haudai, Hald, Kalida, Palaia, Hanna, Mika, Rehab, Hashabia, Zacher, Sheribiya,

Starting point is 01:12:09 Shabanaia, Hodaya, Bonnie, and Beninu. and the leaders of the people. Parash, Pahoth Moab, Elam, Zatu, Bani, Bani, Asgid, Bibi, Adinija, Bigvai, Aden, Otter, Hezekiah, Azar, Hodaya, Hasham, Bzaii, Harif, Anathath, Nabai, Magpiyash, Meishalam, Hezer, Meeshazbel, Zadok, Jadua, Pelotaya, Hanan, Anaya, Hoshiyah, Hananah, Hashab, Pila, Shoebeck, Rehum, Hashabna, Maasya, Maasya, Ahija, Ahanan, Hanan, Malak, Maram, and Ba'ana. The next section is the Vows of the Covenant. Verse 28. The rest of the people, the priests, Levites,

Starting point is 01:13:24 gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the law of God, along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand, hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the law of God given through his servant Moses,

Starting point is 01:13:47 and to carefully obey all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the Lord, our Lord. Okay, so pause there. Are they creating a new covenant with God, making a new promise with God, or are they reaffirming the covenant between God and Israel that started with Abraham? Verse 30, we will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons. When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath

Starting point is 01:14:26 day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year, we will let the fields lie fallow, and will cancel every debt. We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly, for the service of the house of our God, for the show bread, for the regular grain offerings, and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the new moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God. We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring,

Starting point is 01:15:13 it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in the law. We will also bring the first fruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the Lord year by year. And we will bring the first born of our sons and our livestock as it is written in the law, and will bring the first born of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God. Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God, the first fruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil.

Starting point is 01:15:56 A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. A priest of Aaron's line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of those tithes. to the storerooms of the treasury and the house of our God. But the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept, and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay.

Starting point is 01:16:29 Thus we will not neglect the house of our God. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 10. We have the Israelites reaffirming their covenant with God. and they are listing some laws that they are promising to follow. Where do these laws come from? Do the laws that they list match the ones that were given to the Israelites through Moses that we read about in Exodus and Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy? Why was it necessary to reaffirm this covenant at this specific time?

Starting point is 01:17:13 Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 11. which begins with a section called Jerusalem's new settlers. Nehemiah 11, verse 1. Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns, and the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Starting point is 01:17:43 These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns, the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants, while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem. From the descendants of Judah, Atahiyah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amaria, the son of Shefataya, the son of Mahalalal, a descendant of Perez, and Maasya, son of Baruch, the son of Kolhasa, the son of Hesiah, the son of Adaya,

Starting point is 01:18:28 the son of Jorab, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Sheila. The descendants of Perez, who settled in Jerusalem, totaled 468 men of valor. From the descendants of Benjamin, Salu, son of Meshalam, the son of Joad, the son of Padaya, the son of Kalaya, the son of Maasya, the son of Athiel, the son of Dishaya, and his followers, Goodbye and Salai, 928 men. Joel, son of Zikri, was the officer over them, and Judah, son of Hesanua, was over the second district of the city. From the priests, Jedaya, son of Jorib, Jokin, Saraya, son of Hilkaya, the son of Meshalam, the son of Zadok, the son of Miryath, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God, and their associates who did the work at the temple, 822 men.

Starting point is 01:19:31 Adaya, son of Jerram, the son of Pallalia, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pasha, the son of Malkidja, and his associates, the leaders of families, 242 men. Amashai, son of Azarl, the son of Ahazai, the son of Meshalamath, the son of Imur, and his associates 128 men of valor. Zabdiel, son of Hagadolam, was their overseer. From the Levites, Shemaiah, son of Hashub, the son of Azrakam, the son of Hashibya, the son of Buny. Shabathai, and Josabad, two leaders of the Levites

Starting point is 01:20:18 who supervised the work outside the house of God. Matanaya, son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaf, who led in Thanksgiving and prayer. Bakbukaya, second among his associates, and Abda, son of Shemua, the son of Galal, the son of Jedithin, the Levites in the Holy City totaled 284, and the gatekeepers, Akub, Talman, and their associates who kept watch at the gates, 172 men. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section about halfway through the chapter. Why is it important for us to know the names of all the people who resettled in Jerusalem? And why did Nehemiah ask one-tenth of the people living in the areas around Jerusalem

Starting point is 01:21:13 to move within the city limits of Jerusalem within the walls? The next section is residents outside Jerusalem. Verse 20. The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance. The temple servants lived on the hill of Awful, with Zaya and Gishpa over them. Now, the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzi, son of Bonnie, the son of Hashibaya, the son of Matanaya, the son of Mika.

Starting point is 01:21:51 He was one of Asaf's descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God, for there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities. Pethahaya, son of Mechesebel, a descendant of Zira, son of Judah, was the king's agent in every matter concerning the people. As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiryath Arba, Daibon, Jakobsiel, and their villages. In Jeshua, Malada, and Beth Pellet. In Hazar Shal, in Beersheba and its villages. in Zichlog, in Makona and its villages, in Anurriman, Zora, Jarmouth, Zenoa, Adelam, and their villages,

Starting point is 01:22:47 in Lachish and its fields, and in Azika and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the valley of Hinnom. The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Micmash, Aijah and Bethel with its villages, in Anathaa, Knob, Anania, Hazer, Rama, Gitaim, Hadid, Zeboem, Nehabilat, Lod, and Ono, and in the valley of the craftsmen. And some divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 11, and just reflect on where the people of God are right now. What does their community look like?

Starting point is 01:23:38 Where are they living? Who are the ones living inside the city of Jerusalem? Who are the ones living outside the city of Jerusalem? Where are they living? And what do you think this geographic location is doing for their community? Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 12, which begins with a section called the priests and Levites who returned. Chapter 12, verse 1.

Starting point is 01:24:06 Now, these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zarubabel, son of Shialtyal, and with Jeshua. Saraya, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amaria, Maluk, Hattush, Shekinaya, Rahum, Meramoth, Edo, Ginnethon, Abijah, Mejum, Maadia, Bilga, Shammaya, Jorya, Jorya, Jorya, Jedaya, Salu, Amok, Hilkaya, and Judaya. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua. The Levites were Jeshua, Ben-Wei, Codmiel, Sherabaya, Judah, and Matania, who, with his associates, led the songs of Thanksgiving. Bakbukaya and Uni, their associates, stood across from them, in the services.

Starting point is 01:25:05 Jesua was the father of Joycim. Joycim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of Joida. Joida was the father of Jonathan. And Jonathan was the father of Judua. In the days of Joachim, these were the heads of the priestly families. Of the family of Soraya, Mariah. Of Jeremiah, Honanaya.

Starting point is 01:25:30 of Ezra Mechalum, of Amaria Jehohanan, of Maluki, Jonathan, of Shebanaya Joseph, of Haram, Adna, of Marrioth, Al-Qa, of Ido Zechariah, of Ginathan, Mechalam, of Abijah, Zikri, of Miniamine and of Moadia, Piltai of Bilga Shemua, of Shemaya Jonathan, of Jorib Matanai, of Jadaya Uzi, of Sely, Kallai, of Amok, Eber, of Hilkaya, Hashabaya, and of Jadaa Nethanel. In the days of Eliashib, Joida, Johan, and Judua, during the reign of Daria, the Persian, the heads of the families of the Levites and the priests were recorded. As for the descendants of Levi, the family heads up to the days of Johanan, son of Eliashib, were recorded in the book of the Chronicles. The leaders of the Levites were Hashibaya, Sherebaya, and Jesua, son of

Starting point is 01:26:48 Codmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God. Matanaya, Bakbukaya, Obadiah, Mechalum, Talman, and Akub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. They served in the days of Joachimum, son of Jesua, the son of Josadok, and in the days of Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra, the priest, and scribe. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. Why do you think that the people of God, the people of Israel, kept such detailed records of who was doing what within the community

Starting point is 01:27:36 and what each role was within the community of God? The next section is the dedication of the wall, verse 27. At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with Thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by symbols, harps, and liars. The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Nataphethites,

Starting point is 01:28:10 from Beth Gilgall, and from the fields of Geba and Osmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall. Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two great Thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right toward the Dungate.

Starting point is 01:28:39 Oshaya, and half the leaders of Judah followed, along with Azaria, Ezra, Mechalum, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, and some of the priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah, son of Jonathan. the son of Shemaiah, the son of Matanaya, the son of Makaya, the son of Zacher, the son of Asaaf, and his associates Shemaya, Azarel, Malali, Galali, Ma'i, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. With the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God, Ezra the scribe led the procession. At the fountain gate, they climbed the steps of the city of David, on the ascent to the wall, and passed above the House of David

Starting point is 01:29:28 to the water gate on the east. The second Thanksgiving Choir proceeded to the left, and I followed it, with half the people along the top of the wall, past the tower of the ovens to the broad wall, over the gate of Ephraim, the Jeshina Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hononell,

Starting point is 01:29:49 and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stopped, to the gate of the guard. The two Thanksgiving choirs then stood in the House of God, as did I, along with the half of the officials accompanying me,

Starting point is 01:30:05 as well as the priests with their trumpets. Eliakum, Maasya, Minamun, Makaya, Elianai, Zechariah, and Honanaya, and also Maasia, Shamaea, Eliezer, Uzi, Dehohanan, Malchija, Elam, and Ezr. Then the choirs sang out under the direction of Jezrahaya.

Starting point is 01:30:37 On that day, they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. Okay, so pause there. How did the people of God? God, how did the Israelites celebrate the dedication of the wall? They had just spent all this time and energy rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, and now it's time to dedicate it. Who was a part of the

Starting point is 01:31:10 dedication? And how do you think each person who was present felt during this time of celebration? The next section is Provisions for Temple Worship, Verse 44. And on that same day, men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, first fruits, and tithes. The portions that were specified by the law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving. They performed at the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Starting point is 01:32:08 So, in the days of Zerubabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed to the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron. Okay, so pause there at the end of chapter 12 in the end of that section. How does that last section show us that during the time of Nehemiah and Zarubabel, the people of Israel were following God's laws? When they're setting aside a certain amount of the offerings for different groups within the community, what law are they upholding? Okay, so now we can start Nehemiah chapter 13, which be.

Starting point is 01:32:57 begins with a section called foreigners excluded. Nehemiah 13, verse 1. At that time, the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found a passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them, although our God had turned the curse into a blessing.

Starting point is 01:33:27 As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent. Okay, so pause there at the end of this section. Why are the people of God banning these two groups from coming into the temple? This is a law from Deuteronomy 23 versus 3 to 5, if you want to go back and read that section. What had these groups done to God's people that caused? this division between them. This may be another tough section to read, like the one that we read at the end of Ezra, because we know that God cares about foreigners.

Starting point is 01:34:16 There are other laws for the people of Israel to welcome foreigners, and there are other times when we see foreigners being included within the Israelite community and being a part of the temple worship and being a part of their lives. So what was going on historically at the time between the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the Israelites that caused this law to be created? I always encourage everyone when you're reading the Bible to understand the historical context of it, because on the surface, it might seem like one thing is going on. But when you learn the historical context and understand what was going on at the time, then you gain better insight into what was actually going on and what the motivations were behind some of these laws that might seem confusing. The next section is the temple cleansed, verse four.

Starting point is 01:35:20 Now before this, Elie Ashib, the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God, and had prepared for Tobiah a large workroom where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tides of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests. While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the 32nd year of his reign. Sometime later I obtained leave from the king to return to Jerusalem.

Starting point is 01:36:01 Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the House of God. And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the House of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings and frankincense. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. who was Tobiah and why was Nehemiah so angry that Tobiah was given an office within the temple? The next section is tithes restored. Verse 10.

Starting point is 01:36:45 I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked, why has the house of God been neglected? Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts, and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms. I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms, Shalomaya the priest, Zadok, the scribe, and Padaya of the Levites,

Starting point is 01:37:21 with Hanan, son of Zakhir, the son of Matanaya, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites. Remember me for this, oh my God. And do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. What had Nehemiah uncovered that was going on within the temple? So some of the Levites were not being given their purpose.

Starting point is 01:37:59 portion, and they had to go back to serving in their fields. So why is that an issue? Why is it an issue that some of the Levites were not being given their portion of the offerings and had to go work in the fields? What law were they not upholding? And then how did Nehemiah fix this problem? The next section is the Sabbath restored. Verse 15. In those days, I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, so I warned them against selling food on that day. Additionally, men of Tyree who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah

Starting point is 01:38:58 in Jerusalem. Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, What is this evil you are doing profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your forefathers do the same things so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now, you're rekindling his wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath. When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath,

Starting point is 01:39:27 I ordered that the gates be shut. and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day. Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, but I warned them, why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.

Starting point is 01:39:54 From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath. Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, oh my God, and show me mercy according to your abundant, loving devotion. Okay, so pause there at the end of that section. According to God's law, what is the Sabbath supposed to look like within the community of Israel? and how were God's people breaking the Sabbath? Why was breaking the Sabbath an issue and what did Nehemiah do to fix this issue?

Starting point is 01:40:42 The next section is Intermarriage Forbidden. Verse 23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Oshed, Ammon, and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Oshed or of the other peoples but could not speak the language of Judah. I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, you must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves. Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many

Starting point is 01:41:27 nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel. Yet foreign women drew him into sin. Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil, and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women? Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib, the high priest, had become a son-in-law to San Balot the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me. Remember them, oh my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

Starting point is 01:42:07 Thus I purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O God, with favor. Okay, so pause there at the end of Neum. Nehemiah, Nehemiah kind of ends in a similar way to Ezra, where we have them discussing this issue of marrying people outside of the community of Israel. So why was this an issue? Was it an issue just because they were foreign? Or was it an issue because they were allowing other cultures to influence them and their children and their way of life? How was this issue causing the people of Israel to sin?

Starting point is 01:43:00 And if you listened to the Ezra episode, we talked about examples of foreigners coming from the outside and joining the community of Israel and living among them. And we talked about laws in which God called the people of Israel to love the foreigners within their community and to treat them well. And we talked about the example of Ruth, who was actually a Moabite woman who married into the community of Israel. and became a part of that community. But when she did, she left her always behind and began following the God of Israel. So what is the real issue at hand? Is it about marrying these people just because they're foreign? Or is this a religious issue about the people of God being led away from God?

Starting point is 01:43:54 And do we see examples where the Israelites open up their community to foreigners? Okay, so thank you so much for joining me for this episode as we finished and read through Nehemiah. I'm so glad you chose to spend your time listening to God's Word, and I hope that you really reflect and critically think about what you're reading, and I hope that God reveals something to you about His Word today. Thank you for supporting the show and for sending all your emails and kind words. I really appreciate it, and I'm excited for next time when we read through the book.

Starting point is 01:44:32 of Esther. So thank you so much for listening and I will talk to you in the next one.

Bible: Beginning to End - Nehemiah

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