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Introduction to Nehemiah

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of Nehemiah

  1. Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem
    • How Nehemiah receives permission to return to Jerusalem (1:1–2:8)
    • Nehemiah begins to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (2:9–2:20)
  2. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem
    • Beginning at the Sheep Gate and attracting notice of enemies (3:1–32)
    • Sanballat and Tobiah threaten to stop the work on the walls (4:1–12)
    • The work proceeds under Nehemiah's leadership (4:13–23)
  3. Nehemiah addresses mistreatment of the poor and provides an example of unselfishness (5:1–19)
  4. Samaritans seek to slow the work of rebuilding the walls, but the walls are completed in fifty-two days (6:1–19)
  5. A repeat of the counting of the people (7:6–70)
  6. The renewal of the covenant with Yahweh (10:1–39)
  7. A counting of the Jewish leaders in the region (11:1–36)
  8. A counting of the priests and Levites (12:1–26)
  9. The dedication of the walls of Jerusalem (12:27–47)
  10. Correcting abuses and bringing reforms (13:1–31)

What is the Book of Nehemiah about?

The book of Nehemiah is about a Jew named Nehemiah. He lived in Persian and worked for the king. Nehemiah received a report about the condition of the wall around Jerusalem. In those times, the city wall was essential to the protection of the city against armies and invaders. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to help rebuild the city walls.

How should the title of this book be translated?

It is suggested that translators use a self-explanatory title or follow the regional or the national language versions of the Bible. "Nehemiah" is named for the events of the book which focus on the leadership of Nehemiah. One possible title is "The Book about Nehemiah." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

Why were Israelites not allowed to marry people from other nations?

Foreigners worshiped many false gods. Yahweh did not allow his people to marry foreigners because he knew this would cause the people of Israel to worship other gods. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod)

Did all of the people of Israel return to their homeland?

Many of the Jews remained in Babylon instead of returning to the Promised Land. Many of them had become successful in Babylon and desired to remain there. However, this meant that they were unable to participate in the temple worship as their ancestors had done. The remnant who returned to Israel were very faithful because they returned. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/promisedland, rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/remnant and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faithful)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

How does the Book of Nehemiah use the term "Israel"?

The Book of Nehemiah uses the term "Israel" to refer to the kingdom of Judah, which was composed mostly of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The other ten tribes had ended their loyalty to any kings descended from David. God allowed the Assyrians to conquer the other ten tribes and take them into exile. As a result, they became a part of other ethnic groups and did not return to the land of Israel. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/israel)

Are the events in the Book of Nehemiah told in the order that they acutally happened?

Some of the events in the Book of Nehemiah are not told in the order they actually happened. Translators should pay attention to notes that signal when events are probably out of order with each other.