The Old Testament Book of Nehemiah
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven,
the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth,
and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that
is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host
of heaven worshippeth thee.
Nehemiah 9:6 KJV
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* CHAP * COMMENTS
* 1 *The words of Nehemiah. As I was in the palace in the 20th year in
in the month Chisleu I asked concerning Jerusalem. The wall was
broken down and the gates were burned with fire. I wept, mourned,
fasted, and prayed before God. Hear the prayer of thy servant.
We have sinned and dealt corruptly against thee and have not kept
the commandments. Remember your commandment to Moses that if we
turned to thee even after being cast to the uttermost parts of the
heaven that you would gather them and bring them to the place You
chose to set your name. Let your ear be attentive to your servant's
prayer. I was the king's cupbearer.
* 2 *In Artaxerxes 20th year in the month Nisan I took wine to the king
never having been sad previously in his presence. The king asked me
why I was sad-because I wasn't sick. The city--the place of my
father's sepulchres lies waste. The king asked me what request I
was making. I asked to be sent to build the city of my father's
sepulchres. The king asked when I would return. At my request, the
king provided letters to convey me to Judah, and a letter to the
keepers of the king's forest to provide timber. The king sent
horsemen with me. Sanballat and Tobiah were grieved that a man had
come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. I went out by
night to view the walls. I said let us build up the wall. I told
them of the king's words. They said let us rise and build. Sanballat
and Tobiah and Geshem laughed at us when they heard of it.
* 3 *Eliashib the high priest and his brethen the priests built the sheep
gate even unto the tower of Meah unto the tower of Hananeel. This
chapter lists others who worked on the wall.
* 4 *Sanballat was wroth when he heard that the wall was built and mocked.
Tobiah - the Ammonite - said that a fox would break down the wall.
Hear our God - for we are despised. We built the wall for the people
had a mind to work. Sanballot & others were very angry and conspired
to fight Jerusalem to hinder the work. Nehemiah said, "Be not afraid
of them - Remember the Lord who is great and terrible and fight." From
then on 1/2 wrought in the work & 1/2 held the spears and shields. The
workers held a weapon in one hand. All had a sword by his side. None
put off their clothes - except for washing.
* 5 *A cry rose up of the people against their brethren. They had morgaged
their property to buy corn because of the dearth - or to pay tribute &
could not redeem them because others had their lands and vineyards.
Nehemiah was angry when he heard this. He accused them of charging
their brother usury and told them to restore their lands & vineyards.
They promised to do so. Nehemiah was govenor 12 years and did not eat
the bread of the govenor. Think of me - my God - for good as I have
done for this people.
* 6 *When the wall was completed - except for setting the doors on the
gates - Sanballot and Geshem sent asking to meet me in the plain of
Ono intending to do me mischief. I told them I had too great a work
to come. They sent saying it is reported that you're building the
wall to rebell and that you have the prophets saying there is a king
in Judah. I replied, "There is nothing being done as you are saying".
Shemaiah said to me, "Let's go to the temple and shut the doors for
they will come to slay thee". I asked, "Should a man like me flee? I
will NOT go in!" I realized he was not sent by God but had been hired
to tempt me. The wall was finished in 52 days.
* 7 *When the wall was finished I gave my brother Hanani charge over
Jerusalem for he feared God. The city was large but the people few.
God put it in my heart to reckon the people by genealogy. The children
that had been carried away and come again are listed.
* 8 *The people asked Ezra the scribe to bring the law of Moses. He read
from morning to mid day. The ears of the people were attentive unto
the book of the law. Ezra stood on a wooden pulpit. All the people
stood when he opened it. They found the commandment to dwell in booths
in the feast of the 7th month. The congregration did so. Not since the
days of Joshua had they done so.
* 9 *In the 24th day of the month, Israel separated from all strangers and
confessed their sins and their father's iniquities. They prayed unto
God. "Thou art Lord alone. Our fathers hearkened not to your
commandments. You are a God ready to pardon, gracious & merciful, slow
to anger, & of great kindness. You did not forsake them. The children
went in and possessed the land but they were disobedient so you
delivered them into the hand of their enemy. But when they cried to
you - You gave the saviors. Many times you delivered them because of
your mercies. But because they would not hear you-you gave them into
the hands of the people of the lands. You are just. You have done
right but we have done wickedly. Behold we are your servants this day.
Because of all of this we make a sure covenant and our princes,
Levites, and priests seal unto it.
* 10 *List of those that sealed. They entered into an oath to walk in God's
law and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord.
* 11 *Lots were cast to ring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem. List of some
at Jerusalem. List of some of the villages.
* 12 *List of priests and Legvites that went up with Zerubbabel. The Levites
were called for the dedication of Jerusalem's wall. The priests and
Levites purified themselves, the people, the gates, and the wall.
Nehemiah brought the princes of Judah upon the wall and appointed 2
companies to give thanks. The singers made their voice to be heard.
They offered greast sacrifices & rejoiced with great joy. The wives &
children rejoiced so the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. Some
were appointed over the chambers for the treasures.
* 13 *They read in the book of Moses that the Ammonite & the Moabite couldn't
come into the congregation of the God forever. When they heard this
They separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Before Elizshib-
the priest with the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God-
was allied to Tobiah and had made a great chamber for him. It had been
used for the meat offerings and that which was commanded to be given
to the Levites-singers-porters. I was not at Jerusalem at the time.
When I came, I was grieved and cast out all the household stuff of
Tobiah from the chamber. I commanded the chamber to be cleansed and
brought again the vessels of the house of God. When I saw the Levites
portion had not been given them, I contended with the rulers. Remember
me O God - concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds that I have
done for the house of my God.
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