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Highlights from the Book of Nehemiah

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Highlights from the Book of Nehemiah Highlights from the Book of Nehemiah Source Material................................................................................2 Nehemiah - Outline of Contents.....................................................3 Why Beneficial..............................................................................3 Chapters 1–4 Nehemiah Loved True Worship...........................4 Chapters 5-8 Nehemiah Was an Outstanding Overseer...........5 Chapters 9–11 Faithful Worshippers Support Theocratic Arrangements...............................................................................6 Chapters 12–13 Practical Lessons From Nehemiah................7 Chapters 1 - 4...................................................................................8 Chapters 5 - 8.................................................................................28 Chapters 9 –11...............................................................................53 Chapters 12 - 13.............................................................................64 Source Material This material has been sourced from the 2014 Watchtower Library compact disk. Scriptures Included. Only verses that are explained in some way are included in the Scripture Index. Hence, if the material explains the meaning of the text, gives its background, tells why the text was written, or clarifies an original-language word and its implications, the text would be indexed, since the verse or part of it is explained. Scriptures that are used as proof texts but that are not explained are omitted. For example, Ezekiel 18:4 may be used merely to show that the soul dies. In this instance the scripture would not be indexed, since no explanation of the text is given. Note: In some verses material from the WTLibrary is duplicated. Additional personal research is encouraged. Page 2 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Nehemiah – Outline of Contents (cont.) Nehemiah - Outline of Contents NEHEMIAH, whose name means “Jah Comforts,” was a Jewish servant of the Persian king Artaxerxes (Longimanus). He was cupbearer to the king. This was a position of great trust and honor, one to be desired, for it gave access to the king at times when he was in a happy frame of mind and ready to grant favors. However, Nehemiah was one of those faithful exiles who preferred Jerusalem above any personal “cause for rejoicing.” (Ps. 137:5, 6) It was not position or material wealth that was uppermost in Nehemiah’s thoughts but, rather, the restoration of Jehovah’s worship. Why Beneficial “Nehemiah’s godly devotion should be an inspiration to all lovers of right worship. He left a favored position to become a humble overseer among Jehovah’s people. He even refused the material contribution that was his right, and he roundly condemned materialism as a snare. The zealous pursuit and upkeep of Jehovah’s worship was what Nehemiah advocated for the entire nation. (5:14, 15; 13:10-13) Nehemiah was a splendid example to us in being entirely unselfish and discreet, a man of action, fearless for righteousness in the face of danger. (4:14, 19, 20; 6:3, 15) He had the proper fear of God and was interested in building up his fellow servants in the faith. (13:14; 8:9) He vigorously applied the law of Jehovah, especially as it related to true worship and the rejection of foreign influences, such as marriages with pagans.—13:8, 23-29.” “Nehemiah’s complete reliance on Jehovah and his humble petitions should encourage us to develop a like attitude of prayerful dependence on God. Note how his prayers glorified God, showed recognition of the sins of his people, and petitioned that Jehovah’s name be sanctified. (1:4-11; 4:14; 6:14; 13:14, 29, 31) That this zealous overseer was a power for strength among God’s people was shown by the readiness with which they followed his wise direction and the joy that they found in doing God’s will along with him. An inspiring example indeed! However, in the absence of a wise overseer, how quickly materialism, corruption, and outright apostasy crept in! Surely this should impress on all overseers among God’s people today the need to be alive, alert, zealous for the interests of their Christian brothers, and understanding and firm in leading them in the ways of true worship.” Page 3 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Nehemiah – Outline of Contents (cont.) Chapters 1–4 Nehemiah Loved True Worship 1 News from Jerusalem (1-3) Nehemiah’s prayer (4-11) 2 Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem (1-10) Nehemiah inspects the city walls (11-20) 3 Rebuilding the walls (1-32) 4 Work progresses despite opposition (1-14) Construction continues with workers armed (15-23) Page 4 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Nehemiah – Outline of Contents (cont.) Chapters 5-8 Nehemiah Was an Outstanding Overseer 5 Nehemiah stops exploitation (1-13) Nehemiah’s unselfishness (14-19) 6 Opposition to the rebuilding continues (1-14) Wall completed in 52 days (15-19) 7 City gates and gatekeepers (1-4) List of exiles who returned (5-69) Temple servants (46-56) Sons of the servants of Solomon (57-60) Contributions for the work (70-73) 8 The Law is read and explained to the people (1-12) Festival of Booths observed (13-18) Tishri 455 B.C.E. 1. Likely on this occasion, Nehemiah directed the people to assemble for true worship 2. Great rejoicing resulted 3. Family heads gathered to see how they could follow God’s Law more closely 4. The people prepared to celebrate the joyous Festival of Booths Page 5 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Nehemiah – Outline of Contents (cont.) Chapters 9–11 Faithful Worshippers Support Theocratic Arrangements 9 The people confess their sins (1-38) Jehovah, a forgiving God (17) 10 The people agree to follow the Law (1-39) “We will not neglect the house of our God” (39) 11 Jerusalem repopulated (1-36) God’s people willingly supported true worship in various ways The nation prepared for and celebrated the Festival of Booths in the correct way Each day the people gathered to listen to the reading of God’s Law, which made them rejoice The people confessed their sins, prayed, and asked Jehovah to bless them The people agreed to continue supporting all theocratic arrangements Continued support of theocratic arrangements included: Marrying only those who worshipped Jehovah; Making monetary contributions; Observing the Sabbath; Supplying wood for the altar; Giving the first fruits of the harvest and the firstborn of the flocks to Jehovah Page 6 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Nehemiah – Outline of Contents (cont.) Chapters 12–13 Practical Lessons From Nehemiah 12 The priests and the Levites (1-26) Inauguration of the wall (27-43) Support for the temple service (44-47) 13 Further reforms by Nehemiah (1-31) Tenth parts to be given (10-13) Sabbath not to be profaned (15-22) Intermarriage condemned (23-28) Nehemiah zealously defended true worship High Priest Eliashib allowed Tobiah, who was an unbeliever and an opposer, to influence him Eliashib gave Tobiah a space in a temple dining hall Nehemiah threw all of Tobiah’s furniture out, cleansed the room, and returned it to its proper use Nehemiah continued to remove all uncleanness from Jerusalem Page 7 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Highlights from the Book of Nehemiah Chapters 1 - 4 (NEHEMIAH 1:1) The words of Ne·he·miʹah the son of Hac·a·liʹah: Now in the month of Chisʹlev, in the 20th year, I was in Shuʹshan the citadel. *** nwt p. 1695 Glossary *** Chislev. After the Jews’ return from Babylon, the name of the ninth month of the Jewish sacred calendar and the third month of the secular calendar. It ran from mid-November to mid-December. (Ne 1:1; Zec 7:1)—See App. B15. *** nwt p. 1796 B15 Hebrew Calendar *** CHISLEV November—December 25 Festival of Dedication Rain increases, frost, mountain snows Flocks wintered *** w06 2/1 p. 8 par. 5 Highlights From the Book of Nehemiah *** 1:1; 2:1—Is “the twentieth year” mentioned in these two verses counted from the same reference point? Yes, the 20th year is that of the reign of Artaxerxes the king. However, the method of counting used in these verses is different. Historical evidence points to 475 B.C.E. as the year of Artaxerxes’ ascension to the throne. Since the Babylonian scribes customarily counted the years of the Persian kings’ reign from Nisan (March/April) to Nisan, Artaxerxes’ first regnal year began in Nisan of 474 B.C.E. Hence, the 20th year of rulership mentioned at Nehemiah 2:1 began in Nisan of 455 B.C.E. The month of Chislev (November/December) mentioned at Nehemiah 1:1 logically was the Chislev of the preceding year—456 B.C.E. Nehemiah refers to that month as also falling in the 20th year of Artaxerxes’ reign. Perhaps in this case, he was counting the years from the accession date of the monarch. It could also be that Nehemiah was counting time by what the Jews today call a civil year, which begins in the month of Tishri, corresponding to September/October. In any case, the year in which the word went out to restore Jerusalem was 455 B.C.E. *** it-1 p. 422 Castle *** “Shushan the castle,” some 360 km (225 mi) E of Babylon, was a part-time residence of the Persian king. Here Nehemiah worked as a royal cupbearer before leaving for Jerusalem. (Ne 1:1) Page 8 Nehemiah – Table of Contents Highlights from the Book of Nehemiah *** it-2 pp. 487-488 Nehemiah, Book of *** Time Covered and Time of Writing. The month of Chislev (November-December) of a certain 20th year is the reference point with which the historical narrative begins. (Ne 1:1) As is evident from Nehemiah 2:1, this 20th year must be that of Artaxerxes’ reign. Obviously, the 20th year in this case is not reckoned as starting in Nisan (March-April), for Chislev of the 20th year could not then precede Nisan (mentioned at Ne 2:1) of the same 20th year. So it may be that Nehemiah used his own count of time, reckoning the lunar year as beginning with Tishri (September-October), which month Jews today recognize as the beginning of their civil year.
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