Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall

Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Shushan, received a report that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and its gates were burned with fire (Nehemiah 1:1-3). In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, the king observed Nehemiah's sadness and granted him leave to travel to Judah, providing him with letters for the governors and the keeper of the king's forest (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah inspected the ruins by night, noting that the gates were consumed with fire, though the text does not say which specific beast he rode during the entire circuit (Nehemiah 2:12-15).

The reconstruction effort involved various groups, including priests, rulers, and goldsmiths, who worked on specific sections of the wall and gates (Nehemiah 3:1-32). However, this work drew the attention of Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab, who mocked the Jews and accused them of rebelling against the king (Nehemiah 2:19). As the wall reached half its height, the opposition conspired to fight against Jerusalem (Nehemiah 4:6-8). In response, Nehemiah armed the builders with swords, spears, and bows, instructing them to work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other (Nehemiah 4:17-18).

Internal strife also occurred when the people complained of debt and bondage to their brethren, leading Nehemiah to rebuke the nobles and rulers for exacting usury (Nehemiah 5:1-7). Later, Sanballat and Geshem sent messages attempting to lure Nehemiah to a meeting in the plain of Ono, but he refused to go, stating he was doing a great work (Nehemiah 6:1-3). They further attempted to intimidate him through a false prophecy by Shemaiah, though the text does not say the exact amount of money used to hire him (Nehemiah 6:10-12). Despite these threats and letters sent by Tobiah, the labor continued until the structure was finished.