Jensens survey of the old testament adam 137
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document already existing (the list is
practically identical with that of Ezra 2:170). The third-person references to
Nehemiah in 8:9; 10:1; 12:26, 47 do not
contradict his authorship when the context
is recognized.13
C. THE MAN NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah was born of Jewish parents in
exile, and was given the name Nehem-Yah,
meaning “the comfort of Jehovah.” We may
gather from this that Nehemiah’s home was
a godly one. At a young age he was
appointed to the responsible o ce of being
cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. This was the
contact that God used later to secure
imperial permission for the return to
Jerusalem of the third contingent of exiles,
namely, Nehemiah and his project crew.
Nehemiah was truly a man of God, lled
with the Spirit. He had a sensitive ear to
God’s voice concerning even the details of
the work he was doing (2:12; 7:5). Prayer
was a natural and essential part of his life.
He knew what work was, and he worked and
inspired others to do so. When opposition
arose from the enemy, he stood strong and
tall. He was alert also to the subversive plots
of false brethren within the Jewish
commonwealth. And when some of his own
people became discouraged, he turned their
eyes to the help of God, and found a ready
response. Leader, worker, soldier, servant of
God—this was Nehemiah.
D. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
There is a period of twelve years after the
book of Ezra closes (457 B.C.) before the
book of Nehemiah begins its story (cf. Ezra
7:8; 10:16-17; and Neh 1:1; 2:1). Then
Nehemiah records events of the next twenty
years (445-425 B.C.).14
Refer to Chart 57 and note the following:
1. Artaxerxes I was king of Persia15 when
Nehemiah ministered.
2. 458 B.C.—Second return of Jews to
Jerusalem, led by Ezra.
3. 446 B.C.—The enemies force the Jews to
cease building the walls, and virtually
destroy the parts already built (Ezra
4:23). News of this reaches Nehemiah
(Neh 1:3).
4. 445 B.C.—Nehemiah leads a small group
of exiles to Jerusalem to organize the
Jews already there to rebuild the walls.
Nehemiah is appointed by Artaxerxes to
be governor of Judah (a province of
Persia at this time).
5. 444 B.C.—The walls project is completed
(Neh 6:15).
6. 433 B.C.—Nehemiah goes to Babylon on
official business (cf. 2:6 and 13:6). The
date 433 B.C. is derived from Nehemiah
5:14.
7. 425 B.C.—Nehemiah returns from Babylon
(Neh 13:7).
It must have been a heartwarming
experience for Ezra when he learned that
such a zealous believer as Nehemiah had
arrived in Jerusalem with a new contingent
of Jewish exiles.
While Nehemiah served as governor of
Judah, Ezra was still ministering to the
spiritual needs of the Jews there. (Ezra plays
an important part in chapters 8 and 12 of
Nehemiah.)
Nehemiah also counted on the spiritual
services of the prophet Malachi during those
last years of Old Testament history. Many of
the evils denounced in the book of Malachi
are part of the historical record of the book
