Nehemiah

Read this book by chapter and explore its background.

Purpose To recount the reconstruction of Jerusalem’s walls
To demonstrate God’s faithfulness to those dedicated to him
Author Ezra, according to tradition
Date Records events that occurred around 445–430 BC
Setting Jerusalem, approximately fifteen years after Ezra had arrived

Overview Article

Nehemiah left a comfortable job as an assistant to the king of Persia to help the people of Jerusalem who had lost confidence. His new work involved motivating them to again build the city’s walls despite opposition from neighbors. Nehemiah's work was not just about construction. He also:

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Key People, Places, and Terms

Themes

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God's Word at the Center 2 After God told Moses the law at Mount Sinai, God wrote it in stone ( Exodus 34:1 ). He intended the Israelites to teach it to their children ( Deuteronomy 6:7 ). People attached it to their hands and foreheads, They e... Famine 2 Famine happened early in the lives of the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac ( Genesis 12:10 ; 26:1 ). When the patriarch Jacob’s family experienced famine, God had already placed his son Joseph in Egypt to help God's peopl... Music in Ancient Israel 2 The earliest people who moved from place to place (called nomads) made music. The first musician mentioned in the Bible is "Jubal," who played the harp and flute ( Genesis 4:21 ). Music was important from the beginnin... What Is Good 2 Micah 6:8 , a famous and often memorized verse, answers questions from people who became confused and had lost their moral and spiritual direction. The people of Israel wanted to know how to please the Lord. In a soci... Worship in Jerusalem 2 The Old Testament prophets understood that true worship requires knowing God and his expectations. God decided that the temple in Jerusalem would be the main place for his people's worship. The Lord's voice came from... The Seventy Sets of Seven 2 The "seventy weeks" (or sevens) in Daniel 9:24–27 have always been difficult to understand. Although it is difficult to connect them to a specific historical period, these "seventy sets of seven" are important. They s... Bread from Heaven 1 When the Israelites left Egypt and entered the wilderness, God provided manna. Manna was a substance like bread that God gave them to eat ( Exodus 16 ). The LORD gave them enough food for their daily needs (see Nehemi... Community Identity 1 In many Western cultures, people often emphasize individual identity and personal independence. In contrast, many Eastern cultures, such as those in China and India, prioritize family and community relationships over... Community Responsibility: Achan’s Sin 1 Is the whole community responsible for the wrongs of a few people? Why did many of Israel’s soldiers die at Ai due to Achan’s sin ( Joshua 7 )? Why did the Israelites stone Achan’s family with him? Understanding commu... Darkness and Light 1 Darkness means there is no light. There was no light until God commanded it to appear. He then separated light from darkness ( Genesis 1:2 , 4–5 , 18 ). The ninth plague he sent against Egypt was three days of deep da... God’s Covenant with Abraham 1 God started a relationship with Abraham before making a formal covenant (agreement) with him ( Genesis 12:1–9 ; 15 ). God started the relationship with Abraham by speaking to him in a vision. God promised that the eld... Persecution 1 Persecution refers to systematic mistreatment, harassment, or oppression of an individual or group because of their identity, beliefs, or practices. In religious contexts specifically, persecution involves the targeti... Prayers for Vengeance 1 Vengeance is punishment inflicted in return for a wrong suffered. It is the act of causing harm to someone as a response to harm they have caused. The writers of the psalms (called psalmists) sometimes asked God to pu... The Cloud and Fire 1 When Israel was in the wilderness, God guided them with a pillar of cloud and fire. The pillar appeared to the Israelites immediately after the first Passover, when they left Egypt ( Exodus 13:20–22 ). The pillar had... The Priestly Blessing 1 The priestly blessing is a well-known and beloved passage in the Hebrew Bible ( Numbers 6:22–27 ). For centuries, worshipers have found comfort in its short yet meaningful lines. This famous text is simple and disting...

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Outline

Use of Nehemiah in the New Testament

Quoted 2 times across 1 New Testament books

Total quotations 2
Connected books 1
Most-connected book Acts 2

All References

Nehemiah bookOverview.connections.ntReference Compare
Nehemiah 9:6 Acts 4:24
Compare
OT Text
  • You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, 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.
NT Text
  • Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them
Nehemiah 9:6 Acts 14:15
Compare
OT Text
  • You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, 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.
NT Text
  • God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them