Nehemiah (person)

Biblical Record

Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, is the central figure of the book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1). He served as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes in the palace at Shushan (1:11). The cupbearer was a trusted royal attendant responsible for the king's cup. In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, he learned from his brother Hanani that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down and its gates burned with fire, and for many days he wept, fasted, and prayed (chapter 1).

• He received the king's permission and letters, went to Jerusalem, and inspected the walls by night (chapter 2).
• He faced mockery and threats from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. The people pressed on with the work, laboring with one hand and holding a weapon in the other (chapter 4). The wall was finished in fifty-two days (6:15).
• He put an end to the practice of exacting interest from the poor. During his twelve years as governor of Judah, he did not take the governor's allowance (chapter 5).
• He was present as governor when Ezra read the Law aloud (8:9). He then led the renewal of the covenant and the dedication of the wall (chapters 9–12).
• After returning to the king, he came back to Jerusalem and expelled Tobiah, who had taken over a chamber in the temple. He also corrected abuses concerning the portions of the Levites, Sabbath observance, and marriages with foreigners (chapter 13).

The book repeatedly records the prayer "Remember me, O my God" (5:19; 13:14; and elsewhere).

Significance Within the Bible

Nehemiah is portrayed as the leader of the final stage in the restoration of the community that returned from exile after the time of Cyrus. A common summary holds that Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple, Ezra reestablished the Law, and Nehemiah rebuilt the walls and restored the order of the community. Nehemiah's name does not appear in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Debate

• Chronology: Many scholars identify the Artaxerxes of the book as Artaxerxes I and date Nehemiah's return to around 445 BC, though views vary. Whether Ezra or Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem first is also debated among scholars.
• Connection with Daniel 9: Some dispensationalist interpreters identify "the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem" in Daniel 9:25 with the decree of Nehemiah 2 and take it as the starting point for calculating the seventy weeks. Other interpretations take the edict of Cyrus or the decree of Ezra 7 as the starting point.
• Later traditions: The text does not state that Nehemiah was a eunuch; some scholars merely suggest the possibility. Chapters 1–2 of 2 Maccabees contain stories about the altar fire and a library associated with Nehemiah. 2 Maccabees is included in the Catholic Bible but not in the Protestant canon.

In the Korean Church

Nehemiah frequently appears in sermons on leadership. Particular passages are used as follows:

• "Let us rise up and build" (2:18) is often quoted during church building projects.
• The prayer of chapter 1 is presented as a model of repentance and intercessory prayer on behalf of the nation and the community.
• The brief prayer he offered before the king (2:4) is often cited as an example of an "arrow prayer."
• "The joy of the LORD is your strength" (8:10) is also widely memorized.