Day #269

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Nehemiah 1-5 - Audio
Nehemiah 1-5 - Reading

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Daily Reading: Nehemiah 1-5

Introductory notes from the ESV Literary Study Bible:

The book at a glance: The book of Nehemiah has been called one of the liveliest pieces of writing in the Bible. It is a sequel to the book of Ezra, which records the stories of the first two remnants that returned from exile to Jerusalem. The book of Nehemiah tells the story of what befell the third wave of returnees, some thirteen years after the second group had returned. Two main actions occur—the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem and the recommitment of the returned exiles to fulfill their covenant obligations. There is something for virtually everyone in this book, which is a general’s diary, a governor’s report, a civil record, a management handbook, and a memoir all in one short book. The events covered in this historical chronicle and collection of hero stories span approximately fifteen years. Part of the liveliness of the book stems from the striking character of Nehemiah, who emerges from the pages as a godly and decisive leader

The book of Nehemiah as a chapter in the master story of the Bible: Like the book of Ezra, the book of Nehemiah records an important phase of the national history of God’s OTcovenant nation. In this history we can see how God wants his people to live and worship, and this is a main strand in the master story of the Bible. Furthermore, rebuilding the city of God, literally and symbolically, is a key biblical theme.

A companion story to Ezra: The book of Nehemiah invites comparison to its predecessor, Ezra. The careers of Ezra and Nehemiah overlapped, and the book of Nehemiah completes the action that began with the book of Ezra. The book of Ezra deals with two main events—the movement to rebuild the temple and a reform movement based on a return to the law of the covenant. The book of Nehemiah follows the same pattern: as in the book of Ezra, the first half is a rebuilding story (the rebuilding of the city wall), and the second half is a story of reform (a return to obeying God’s covenant rules). The division of duties between Nehemiah and Ezra are complementary: Nehemiah’s leadership is governmental and administrative, while Ezra’s leadership is priestly and liturgical.

Nehemiah 1

1.4 This is a very emotional verse. Nehemiah sits down abruptly. He is overwhelmed by the news. Similarly today, it is common that when someone hears bad news, they need to sit down.

1.5 “Nehemiah’s response to hearing the news is indicative of his awareness that God was calling him to a completely new sphere of service, for which his position and training had uniquely prepared him. This is shown in particular by his sense of identity with his people (4, 6–7) and the fact that he prayed about the situation for four months (2:1). (Clearly, the account we have here is but a summary.) Such a period of waiting is indicative both of faith in the reality of the call and of sustained commitment (New Bible Commentary).” The prayer comes off as especially sincere. Worth reading through slowly. He calls on God, appealing to the promises God had made to his people. This interaction with God also led him to confess the sins of the nation to God. This very importantly frames the entire book in terms of 1) God's covenant 2) a repentant Israel. This is what will enable Israel to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.

1.11 The seemingly random comment about Nehemiah being cup bearer to the king is a parenthetical statement. It actually points forward to chapter 2. Nehemiah's status as cup bearer gets the whole process rolling. His status is merely one more link in the chain of God's sovereignty. God is working behind the scenes in this story in order to give Nehemiah the position he needs to have access to the king.

Nehemiah 2

2.4 Notice again how prominent prayer is in Nehemiah's action. He is always seeking God in all he does.

2.8 Nehemiah is aware that God the one who is really in control here.

2.10 Sanballat, Nehemiah’s arch-rival, is known from a document discovered in Egypt to have been the governor of Samaria and to have given his sons good ‘Yahwistic’ names. We may speculate that, following the debacle of Ezr. 4, he had been given temporary jurisdiction over Judah and that this may account for his jealousy of Nehemiah. Tobiah had close personal links inside Jerusalem (NBC)

2.13 This is quite a dramatic scene. Nehemiah enters the city at night to inspect the city (I imagine a figure like Zorro riding in through the gate. He plans to keep his mission secret from potential enemies.

2.11-20 “After arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah tested his vocation with caution. First, he engaged physically, but in secret, with the task which confronted him (11–16), no doubt ‘counting the cost’ of so momentous an undertaking cf. Lk. 9:57–62; 14:28–32). Secondly, with more than a hint that he believed that God had sent him, he invited the cooperation of the people in the fulfilment of his call (17–18). Their unanimous response confirmed that he was on the right path. Individual vocation generally finds such confirmation by the community of faith (Acts 13:1–2). Finally, he was not deflected by opposition, but rather responded with a positive assertion of what he had been called to do, and left the outcome to the God who had initiated the task (19–20).” (NBC)

Nehemiah 3

This chapter is a detailed list of construction tasks (which narratively speaking aren't completed till chapter 6).

“The overall picture to emerge is instructive. It demonstrates first a unity of intention by the people, some forty sections apparently working simultaneously. This could not have been achieved had there not been good supervision, close cooperation and an eye open for what was being done in neighbouring sections. Secondly, however, the interests and motives of those involved differed considerably. Some worked on the basis of family association, others as individuals, some in district associations, some on the basis of their position in society and yet others because of professional association. Moreover, in many cases the people were employed at that point in the wall where they had a vested interest. These first two points serve as a useful illustration of the unity and diversity which should characterize the work of the church (cf., for instance, Rom. 12:3–8;1 Cor. 12:4–27; Eph. 4:1–13). Finally, it is challenging to note the varying degrees of involvement. A few refused to participate at all (5); most appear to have completed the task allotted to them; but some even managed a second section (NBC).”

Nehemiah 4

Plot and counterplot [ chapter 4 ]. What began simply as a story that has gripped us with its picture of industriousness, efficiency of organization, and engineering and architectural expertise now becomes a conflict story, as the Jews’ neighbors display hostility to them and their rebuilding of the city wall. The conflict unfolds as a plot by the Jews’ enemies and a counterplot by the Jews. The sequence is as follows: Sanballat and Tobiah taunt the Jews (vv. 1–3); the Jews pray to God for deliverance and continue to build the wall (vv. 4–6); a confederation of enemies plans a secret attack on the Jews, who respond with prayer and stationing of armed defenders at the wall (vv. 7–14); the Jews continue to build the wall with a strategy of half of the men building the wall and half of them standing guard (vv. 15–20), along with a scheme of alternating nighttime watch and daytime work (vv. 21–23). Good ways to read this chapter include the following: follow the plot conflict between the Jews and their enemies; note the specific ingredientsof human ingenuity in the actions of the Jews; observe the references to God—both the people’s expression of faith in God and the introduction of God as an actor in the story. The archetype at work is the triumph of the godly underdog. (ESV Literary Study Bible)

Nehemiah 5

5.1-13 The sense of social injustice was aggravated by the facts that their creditors were fellow-Jews (1, 5) and that they were reaching the point of having to sell themselves into debt-slavery. Though not illegal as such, such practices were permitted only as short-term measures, and the law was concerned to protect the longer-term interests of the very poor (e.g. Ex. 21:2–11; Lv. 25; Dt. 15:1–18). This could not help in the present sudden emergency, and, besides, what was happening was contrary to the whole ethos of what Nehemiah was attempting to achieve (6–8). He therefore brought moral pressure to bear on the creditors by confronting them in public and by candidly acknowledging his own shortcomings in the matter (10). In this way he cut straight through any legalistic arguments in order to uphold the moral spirit of the law, very much in the manner of some of the earlier prophets. (NBC)

5.14-19 In order to illustrate the principle that within the community generosity is to be preferred to personal gain, Nehemiah reflected on his practice throughout what we now learn for the first time was his twelve-year term as governor (14). This is considerably longer than the period envisaged at 2:6, and we know next to nothing about what happened after the first year. The highly selective nature of the biblical record is thus again emphasized. (NBC)