Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2 is the second of the thirteen chapters of the Book of Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah hears that the walls of Jerusalem have been broken down and responds in prayer. In this chapter he obtains the king's permission, goes to Jerusalem, and begins the work of rebuilding. The account of the work continues with the list of assigned sections in Nehemiah 3.

Outline

• Verses 1–8: In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah is serving wine to the king when the king notices the sadness on his face and asks the reason. Nehemiah answers that the city of his fathers' sepulchres lies waste. After a brief prayer to the God of heaven, he asks to be sent to Judah to rebuild the city, and a time is set for his return. He then requests letters to the governors beyond the river granting him safe passage, and a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, for timber. The king grants these requests.
• Verses 9–10: The king sends captains of the army and horsemen with him, and Nehemiah delivers the letters to the governors. When Sanballat and Tobiah hear of it, they are exceedingly grieved.
• Verses 11–16: Three days after arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah goes out by night with only a few men to inspect the walls. He leaves by the valley gate, passes the dragon well and the dung port, and comes to the gate of the fountain and the king's pool; he then goes up along the brook and returns through the valley gate. The rulers do not know what he has done.
• Verses 17–18: Nehemiah urges the people of Judah to rebuild the wall, telling them of the hand of God that has been good upon him and of the king's words. The people respond, "Let us rise up and build," and strengthen themselves for the work.
• Verses 19–20: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian laugh them to scorn, asking, "Will ye rebel against the king?" Nehemiah answers that the God of heaven will prosper them and that his opponents have no portion in Jerusalem.

Key Verses

• Nehemiah 2:4 "So I prayed to the God of heaven": a prayer offered in the brief moment after the king's question. It is often discussed alongside the lengthy prayer with fasting in chapter 1.
• Nehemiah 2:18 "Let us rise up and build": the turning point at which the people join in the work of rebuilding.
• Nehemiah 2:20 "The God of heaven, he will prosper us": Nehemiah's declaration of confidence in the face of opposition.

People and Places

• Nehemiah: an official at the Persian court who served wine to the king; in this chapter he goes to Jerusalem.
• Artaxerxes: king of Persia. He is generally identified as Artaxerxes I.
• Sanballat: a Horonite. He is commonly identified with the governor of Samaria mentioned in the Elephantine papyri, an extrabiblical source.
• Tobiah: an Ammonite.
• Geshem: an Arabian.
• The valley gate, dung port, gate of the fountain, and king's pool: gates and water sites along the walls of Jerusalem. Scholars differ on their exact locations.

Points for Reflection

• Chronology: Both the month Chisleu in chapter 1 and the month Nisan in this chapter are dated to the "twentieth year." As a result, various explanations have been offered as to the month from which the king's regnal years were counted. The year is commonly calculated as about 445 BC.
• Relationship to Daniel: Some interpreters, including certain dispensationalists, hold that "the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem" in Daniel 9:25 refers to the decree in this chapter. Others identify it instead with the edict of Cyrus or with the decree of Artaxerxes' seventh year (Ezra 7).
• Relationship to the New Testament: The New Testament does not directly quote this chapter.

In the Korean Church

The call to "rise up and build" in Nehemiah 2:18 and 2:20 is reportedly quoted often at groundbreaking services for church buildings and in sermons on church construction. Nehemiah's example of praying, then making plans and acting on them, is also a common subject for sermons and Bible studies on leadership.