LOOKING FOR NEHEMIAH

[JLG]

- It is interesting to see that there are two writers!

- Ezra wrote about the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel!

- Nehemiah wrote concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls!

- It shows the importance of each rebuilding!

- The first one for a religious purpose!

- The second one for the protection of the people living in the city!

- It also shows the importance of a good organization to succeed!

- The last paragraph is also interesting when it speaks about a testament of faithfulness and perseverance!

- It also shows the importance of working together!

- Of course, it is not easy!

- Of course, it is necessary to learn how to do it!

- Of course, it is necessary to adapt to each other!

- Everything is good to defend Yah.weh’s interests!

- It is interesting to remember that Yah.weh told Daniel about a restoration followed by a destruction!

- It can lead us to the new promised land under Yah.weh’s government!

- Jesus will be the leader for 1,000 years!

- Thus we can speak about restoration!

- But after that, the devil and his demons will be freed again and will do their best to take away human beings from Yah.weh!

- Once again, there will be a war!

- It will be the last one!

- Every human being will have the opportunity to show his faithfulness to Yah.weh or not!

- The Book of Revelation tells us that as usual the majority will go against Yah.weh!

Revelation 20:7

“When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,”

Revelation 20:8

“And will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.”

Revelation 20:9

“And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.”

Revelation 20:10

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:11

“Then I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.”

Revelation 20:12

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.”

Revelation 20:13

“The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.”

Revelation 20:14

“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death - the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:15

“And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:1

[These are] the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I

Was in the citadel of Susa,

- We are told who wrote this book!

- Nehemia, son of Hacaliah!

- We are told when!

- In the month of Chislev!

- Kislev is a month which occurs in November–December on the Gregorian calendar and is sometimes known as the month of dreams!

- In the twentieth year!

- We are told where!

- In the citadel of Susa!

- Located in the south-west of Iran, in the lower Zagros Mountains, the property encompasses a group of archaeological mounds rising on the eastern side of the Shavur River, as well as Ardeshir's palace, on the opposite bank of the river.

- Like in the book of Ezra, we see precision!

- Let’s always remember that Yah.weh is a God of precision!

- As a consequence, we should try our best to show the same precision when we deal with the word of Yah.weh!

- Unfortunately, it is usually not the case with men!

- It is the first lesson they should learn to show they really want to understand the Bible!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:2

Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant

of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

- Nehemiah wants to know about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile and also about Jerusalem!

- So before going back, he wants to know what’s on over there!

What happened to the Jews after Jerusalem was destroyed?

The total destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple was catastrophic for the Jewish people. According to the contemporary historian Josephus Flavius, hundreds of thousands of Jews perished in the siege of Jerusalem and elsewhere in the country, and many thousands more were sold into slavery.

 

[JLG]

The physical destruction wrought by the Babylonian troops was tremendous. The Temple, the palace, and all of the houses of Jerusalem were burnt, the walls of the city were torn down, and the remaining treasures from the Temple were taken to Babylon (II Kings 25:8-17).

Archaeological evidence shows that the destruction extended beyond Jerusalem to as far as Ein Gedi in the east, Arad in the south and Lachish in the west. These cities, as well as Ramat Rachel, Bet Shemesh and Bet Tzur were reduced to subsistence level villages. The population was diminished through military action and forced relocation; II Kings and Jeremiah differ on the numbers, but they both present a sense of economic and political disruption.

Other evidence, however, argues against seeing the destruction of 586 as a major upheaval. While the book of Kings says “only the poorest people of the land” remained (II Kings 25:12), even according to the larger report, the 10,000 people deported would have been a small portion of the population as a whole, albeit a wealthy and socially significant one. Unlike the Assyrians before them, the Babylonians did not settle new people in the destroyed areas; the Babylonian chief Nevuzaradan apparently redistributed some of the land of those exiled (Jeremiah 39:10) to those who remained. Enough people remained to maintain the harvest.

 

[JLG]

Some Locals Leaders Remain​

Although the Babylonians exiled much of the leadership, some of the local leaders remained. The Babylonians appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to serve in some administrative role over the people (II Kings 25:22); Ahikam had earlier demonstrated his sympathy to Jeremiah, and presumably to Jeremiah‘s pro-Babylonian politics when he saved the prophet from a death sentence pronounced by the priests and prophets after his “Temple Sermon” in the year 609 (Jeremiah 26:24). Gedaliah probably was appointed because he shared his father’s pro-Babylonian sentiments.

From his capital of Mitzpah, north of Jerusalem, Gedaliah continued or at least supported the redistribution of land to the poor and those who had fled (Jeremiah 40:9-11). Jeremiah’s report that they “gathered a great abundance of wine and summer fruits” (v. 12) may be historical, but also represents the prophet’s not-so-subtle claim that Gedaliah’s efforts met with God’s favor. Furthermore, the presence of wine and fruit in the harvest indicates that delicate agricultural resources like vineyards and orchards had not been destroyed by the Babylonians.

 

[JLG]

Gedaliah is Assassinated​

Although Gedaliah seems to have had the support of the people, there were those who opposed him. Ishmael the son of Netaniah, who was serving as a military commander under Gedaliah, assassinated Gedaliah (II Kings 25:25). Biblical texts are unclear about the date (either in the fall of 586 or 585), but in any case, his tenure was very short. The reasons for the assassination are not described in the Bible. Ishmael, who claimed to be descended from David‘s son Elishama, may have had royal pretensions of his own, or perhaps he sought vengeance against the representative of Babylon for the butchering of Zedekiah’s family.

Following the assassination of Gedaliah, little is known about the Judeans who remained in the land. Much of the landed elite had been relocated to Babylonia; others, in the wake of the assassination, fled to Egypt, Jeremiah among them.

Although II Kings and the book of Ezra describe the total cessation of worship at Jerusalem, other evidence seems to imply that aspects of the cult remained in place. After the assassination of Gedaliah, “some men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, came with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 41:5).

 

[JLG]

Cyrus and Restoration​

Around 556, an Aramean named Nabonidus seized the Babylonian throne, and proceeded to alienate many of the Babylonians by elevating his own favorite deity, the moon god, Sin. Soon after, a Persian named Cyrus took over the Median empire in Ecbatana. By 547, Cyrus campaigned in Asia Minor and laid siege to the King Croesus of Lydia in his capital of Sardis. Nabonidus continued to lose support within his shrinking Babylonian empire, and in 539, Cyrus conquered Babylon itself, claiming the assistance of the Babylonian god Marduk, probably after receiving real support from the traditional priests of Marduk in the city.

Also among Cyrus’ supporters were Jews like the prophet whose stirring poetry is preserved in the book of Isaiah (chapters 40-55, called Second Isaiah).

Indeed, Cyrus adopted a general policy of restoration. The Cyrus Cylinder, perhaps the single most significant piece of primary evidence for the period, preserves a cuneiform record of the basic activities and policies of the founder of the Persian empire. It includes a significant notice that Cyrus (speaking in first person), restored the traditional worship to the cities of Ashur, Susa, Agade, Eshnunna and a few others

“I returned to these cities… the sanctuaries of which had been ruins for a long time, the images which used to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I also gathered all their former inhabitants and returned their habitations.”

Notably, Jerusalem is not on the list of restored cities and temples. The book of Ezra, however, does preserve an edict purporting to be from Cyrus authorized the rebuilding of Temple and the restoration of the temple vessels. An embellished form of the edict is found in the first chapter of Ezra in which Cyrus sounds like Second Isaiah, attributing his rise to the Lord God of heaven, using the particular name of the God of Israel. Later, during the reign of Darius, a copy of Cyrus’ edict was found (Ezra 6:3-5); this version is somewhat more reasonable, including dimensions for the temple which was to be rebuilt and none of the language that describes Cyrus as an adherent of the God of Israel.

Although the Second Temple was not built for many decades, some of the exiled Jews did return from Babylon. Upon their return, conflicts developed between the community of the returnees and that of those who were left in Judah. The exilic experience had apparently been a fertile one for religious developments, and the two communities had diverged in ways that would have a formative impact on the shape of all later Judaism.

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:3

And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile [are] there in the province,

in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem [is] broken down, and its gates

[are burned] with fire.”

- He is told that the people are in great trouble and disgrace!

- Because the wall of Jerusalem is broken down!

- And its gates are burned!

- Thus they are without any protection!

- And can be attacked by anyone!

- The Hebrews’ enemies know too well the Hebrews and their history!

- They know that they are rebellious people!

- Thus when they destroyed Jerusalem, they did it properly!

- And it will be exactly the same story after the restoration!

- Thus it is impossible to make mistakes about the Hebrews!

- But people keep doing it!

- That’s their problem if they don’t want to understand!

- It is too ridiculous!

- I would say insane!

- But they keep on the same way!

- Everybody has free will!

- But it won’t save them!

- No problem!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:4

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting

and praying before the God of heaven.

- Nehemiah weeps and mourns and fast and pray to Yah·weh!

- His feelings are quite clear!

- Let’s compare Nehemiah’s attitude and the attitude of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar when they come to Job!

Job 2:12,13

When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust into the air over his head.

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering had become.

 

[JLG]

- Let’s compare their attitudes!

- Nehemiah sits down and weeps. He mourns for days, fasts and prays before Yah.weh!

- The three men weep aloud, tear their robes, throw dust into the air over their heads. They sit on the ground with him for seven days and nights and they stay silent!

- At first, we could say it is quite similar!

- But it is different!

- For the three men, it’s a show!

- Nehemiah shows more dignity!

- Superficiality from the one hand, depth from the other hand!

- Then there is a lot more from Nehemiah!

- He shows respect to Yah.weh by fasting!

- And above all, He prays to Yah.weh!

- Thus, according to your attitude, you tell a lot about your intentions!

 

[JLG]

- I think it is also interesting to add Daniel’s attitude about his prayer of confession to Yah.weh!

Daniel 9:3,4

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

And I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

- Here again Daniel shows respect to Yah.weh through prayer and petition, fasting, sackcloth and ashes!

- Thus, Nehemiah and Daniel show humility and they pray Yah.weh!

- It is completely natural for them!

- Let’s show the same attitude to Yah.weh if we want to develop a special relationship to him and a natural one!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:5

Then I said: “I pray, O LORD (Yah·weh) God of heaven,the great and awesome God

who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep

His commandments,

- So Nehemiah prays to Yah·weh!

- The one who keeps his covenant of loving devotion with those who love him!

- The one who keeps his commandments!

- Not to forget “with those who love him”!

- Here we are told about having a strong relationship with Yah.weh!

- A strong relationship between a man and his son, a creator and his creature with such elements as:

- Loyalty, love, care, respect, mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, slow to anger, kindness, compassion!

- To visualize loving devotion, we must think about faithfulness and faithful servants of Yah.weh!

- We can also think about the relationship between Yah.weh and Jesus, Jesus always knowing his position towards his Father!

- To visualize the opposite, we have to think about the Hebrews and mankind!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:6

may Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear the prayer that I,

Pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess

the sins we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s

House have sinned.

- When we hear Nehemiah’s prayer, it sounds like Daniel’s prayer!

- In both cases they pray for the restoration of Jerusalem!

- In both cases they acknowledge the sins of the israelites!

- But he prays to Yah·weh day and night!

- And he asks Yah·weh to open his eyes and ears!

- The Hebrews have abandoned Yah.weh!

- As a consequence, Yah.weh has abandoned the Hebrews!

- Why should he listen to them again?

- He has no obligation!

- That’s why Nehemiah does his best to attract Yah.weh’s attention!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:7

We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments,

Statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

- Nehemiah mentioned two points!

- First, the people’s corruption!

- Second, they didn’t keep Yah.weh’s commandments, statutes and ordinances given to Moses!

- They were completely wrong!

- They have no excuses!

- It is clear like crystal!

- There is nothing more to say!

- Corruption has something to do with being deep inside!

- It has become natural but it shouldn’t!

- There are no more questions, whereas there should be some!

- In fact, we should keep asking ourselves!

- Otherwise, there is something wrong or totally wrong!

- It has to do with accuracy!

- Accuracy of mind!

- We must be spiritually awakened!

- We should know all the time where we are!

- If we are confused, there is something wrong!

- If it’s not clear, there is something wrong!

- If we follow the move, there is something wrong!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:8

Remember, I pray,

נָא֙ (nā)

Interjection

Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then


the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you

are unfaithful, I will scatter you

אֶתְכֶ֖ם (’eṯ·ḵem) among the nations,

- As a consequence, Yah.weh scaterred them among the nations!

- They were exiled to babylon!

- Because of their unfaithfulness!

- It doesn’t matter when!

- It was to happen!

- It will be the same for mankind!

- But this time it won’t mean exile!

- It will mean death!

- No possibility of coming back!

- Like in the case of Adam and Eve!

- Final judgment!

- Man has a short memory!

- Yah.weh must constantly remember who is the boss!

- But remember the case of Job!

- There was a trial between Yah.weh and the devil!

- About the faithfulness of man towards Yah.weh!

- As a consequence, Yah.weh couldn’t do anything except prevent the devil from killing Job!

- Now the last trial is about the demonstration of Yah.weh being the only one able to lead the universe and the inability of man to lead himself!

- Well, the demonstration is turning into a farce as man is about destroying all life on earth!

- Man has been trying any kind of political system!

- And man has shown himself a wolf for man!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:9

but [if] you return to Me to keep and practice My commandments,

then even if your exiles have been banished to the ends of the earth,

I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen

as a dwelling for My Name.’

- The covenant between Yah.weh and the Israelites is still available!

- But the Israelites must do their part!

- If they don’t do anything, they can forget the covenant!

- Yah.weh won’t do his part either!

- That’s the balance human beings always forget!

- If you don’t do anything, you get nothing!

- It is as simple as that!

- But apparently very complicated for mankind!

- Find the mistake!

- The problem is that the Hebrews have always demonstrated their unfaithfulness!

- And Yah.weh’s answer to Daniel’s prayer is clear: restoration followed by destruction!

- It is the same for mankind: destruction before Yah.weh’s kingdom!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:10

They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power

and mighty hand.

- Nehemiah needs to remind Yah.weh that they are his servants and his people!

- In fact, they used to be so long time ago!

- And he reminds Yah.weh of his great power!

- And his mighty hand!

- Everything has to be rebuilt!

- Everything has to be done!

- There is nothing left!

- Because they forgot Yah.weh!

- History repeats again and again!

- Israel!

- Judah!

- Mankind!

- But mankind never understands!

- Only spiritual prostitution!

- But faithfulness is not part time but full time!

- Faithfulness has nothing to do with corruption!

- Mankind only knows corruption!

- Man is corruption!

- Religion is corruption!

 

[JLG]

Nehemiah 1:11

O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayers

of Your servants who delight in reverence of Your name. Give Your servant success

this day, I pray,

נָּ֤א (nā)

Interjection

Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. (For I was the cupbearer to the king.)

- Nehemiah keeps asking Yah.weh for being attentive to his prayer and all prayers of those who care for God’s name!

- He asks Yah.weh for giving him success in his action!

- He asks Yah.weh for mercy!

- He must rebuild Jerusalem’s walls!

- And the enemies are everywhere!

- It is incredible to see the differences of attitude to Yah.weh between the faithful servants of Yah.weh and the others!

- When I look at Job, Daniel, Samuel, Nehemiah, Ezra…, I see humility, I see respect, i see people who really care!

- When I see corruption, there is no humility, no respect, no care, nothing, it is just empty as if they were already dead!

 

[JLG]

Nehemia 2:1

Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine

was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad

in his presence,

Who is Artaxerxes in the Bible?

Artaxerxes I, (died 425 BC, Susa, Elam [now in Iran]), Achaemenid king of Persia (reigned 465–425 BC). He was surnamed in Greek Macrocheir (“Longhand”) and in Latin Longimanus. A younger son of Xerxes I and Amestris, he was raised to the throne by the commander of the guard, Artabanus, who had murdered Xerxes.

- So Nehemiah gives wine to the king Artaxerxes!

- And it is the first time that Nehemiah is sad before him!

- He can’t control himself in front of the king!

- He feels sad because of the bad conditions of the people in Jerusalem!

- And he really wants to do something!

- When we read about Daniel, Nehemiah , Ezra and other faithful servants of Yah.weh, they are all concerned about their people in Jerusalem!

- On the one hand, the faithful servants of Yah.weh, one people, on the other hand, the others!

- Faithfulness vs corruption!

- It is so different!

- No comparison at all!

- Completely opposed!

- Everyone must choose his master!

- There are only two masters!

- And it is not possible to serve both!