Nehemiah 11
1 Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns. 2 The people praised all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
         - Perfect example of why people quit coming to church today.
         - Too much work & judged harshly.
         - High expectations from pastor.
         - This re-population effort was needed to protect the city of Jerusalem and, consequently, the temple.
         - Living in the city was not an attractive option because Jerusalem lay in ruins.[1]
3 These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns —the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants — 4 while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem):

Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez’s descendants; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite. 6 The total number of Perez’s descendants, who settled in Jerusalem, was 468 capable men.

7 These were Benjamin’s descendants: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928. 9 Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.

10 The priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple, 12 and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah 13 and his relatives, the leaders of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief.

15 The Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city: 284.

19 The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the gates: 172.

20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property. 21 The temple servants lived on Ophel; wZiha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants.

22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, who were singers for the service of God’s house. 23 There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating the singers’ daily tasks. 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people.

25 As for the farming settlements with their fields:
Some of Judah’s descendants lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages,
Dibon and its villages, and Jekabzeel and its villages;
26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet,
27 Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba and its villages;
28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages;
29 in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, and
30 Zanoah and Adullam with their villages;
in Lachish with its fields and Azekah and its villages.
So they settled from Beer-sheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31 Benjamin’s descendants:
from Geba, pMichmash, Aija,
and Bethel —and its villages,
32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen.
36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.

Nehemiah 12
1 These are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their relatives in the days of Jeshua.
8 The Levites:
Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah —
he and his relatives were in charge of the praise songs.
9 Bakbukiah, Unni, and their relatives stood opposite them in the services.
10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim,
Joiakim fathered Eliashib,
Eliashib fathered Joiada,
11 Joiada fathered Jonathan,
and Jonathan fathered Jaddua.
12 In the days of Joiakim, the leaders of the priestly families were: …

22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the leaders of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded while Darius the Persian ruled. 23 Levi’s descendants, the leaders of families, were recorded in the Book of the Historical Records during the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. 24 The leaders of the Levites—Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them—gave praise and thanks, division by division, as David the man of God had prescribed. 25 This included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 These served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
         - The process of purification included ritual bathing and shaving, putting on clean garments, fasting, abstaining from sexual intercourse, and offering sacrifices[2]

31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph followed 36 as well as his relatives—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them. 37 At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the city of David on the ascent of the wall and went above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The second thanksgiving procession went to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard. 40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials accompanying me, 41 as well as the priests:
Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin,
Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah,
and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar,
Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer.
Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. 43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away.
44 On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were leaders of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron.

Nehemiah 13         - 433 BC – Nehemiah returns to Artaxerxes in Persia
         - 432 BC – Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to enforce the Law
1 At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah 5 and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.
            - Tobiah mentioned in Neh 2:10 - When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.[3]

6 While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence 7 so I could return to Jerusalem.
         - Rumor must have been serious enough…
Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house. 8 I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room. 9 I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense. 10 I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field. 11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, saying, “Why has the house of God been neglected?”
         - Everything he had worked so hard for was being neglected.
         - He was taking this personal as well representing his God.
I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts. 12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues.

14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.
         - Begging God not to include him in with the negligence of his people.

15 At that time I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
         - They had just made an oath and signed a document not to do this.
So I warned them against selling food on that day. 16 The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.
17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”
19 When shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the gates be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates, so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, 21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I’ll use force against you.” After that they did not come again on the Sabbath. 22 Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion in keeping with Your abundant, faithful love.
23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew. 25 I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before God and said: “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves! 26 Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin. 27 Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
28 Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. 31 I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, my God, with favor. [4]

Hebrews 4:9-10 - Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.
        -  It’s not about a duty or responsibility… chill out… trust God… He will work through you… especially if you figure out the “Sabbath Rest”.
        -  Know Him… know His heart.
        -  What Christ did on the cross was complete.
        -  We are capable of resting from our own works.
10 For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His. 11 Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
      -  Effort!! First… just stop doing things!!
Sit at His feet.

[1] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 11:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[2] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 12:30). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ne 2:10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ne 13:1–31). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Nehemiah 9
1 On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. 3 While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God. 4 Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the raised platform built for the Levites and cried out loudly to the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah —said, “Stand up. Praise Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting.” 

    Praise Your glorious name, 
    and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 
    6 You alone are Yahweh. 
    You created the heavens, 
    the highest heavens with all their host, 
    the earth and all that is on it, 
    the seas and all that is in them. 
    You give life to all of them, 
    and the heavenly host worships You. 
    7 You are Yahweh, 
    the God who chose Abram 
    and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, 
    and changed his name to Abraham. 
    8 You found his heart faithful in Your sight, 
    and made a covenant with him 
    to give the land of the Canaanites, 
    Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, 
    Jebusites, and Girgashites— 
    to give it to his descendants. 
    You have kept Your promise, 
    for You are righteous. 

    9 You saw the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt 
    and heard their cry at the Red Sea. 
    10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, 
    all his officials, and all the people of his land, 
    for You knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors. 
    You made a name for Yourself 
    that endures to this day. 
    11 You divided the sea before them, 
    and they crossed through it on dry ground. 
    You hurled their pursuers into the depths 
    like a stone into churning waters. 
    12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day, 
    and with a pillar of fire by night, 
    to illuminate the way they should go. 
    13 You came down on Mount Sinai, 
    and spoke to them from heaven. 
    You gave them impartial ordinances, reliable instructions, 
    and good statutes and commands. 
    14 You revealed Your holy Sabbath to them, 
    and gave them commands, statutes, and instruction 
    through Your servant Moses. 
    15 You provided bread from heaven for their hunger; 
    You brought them water from the rock for their thirst. 
    You told them to go in and possess the land 
    You had sworn to give them. 

    16 But our ancestors acted arrogantly; 
    they became stiff-necked and did not listen to Your commands. 
    17 They refused to listen 
    and did not remember Your wonders 
    You performed among them. 
    They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader 
    to return to their slavery in Egypt. v
    But You are a forgiving God, 
    gracious and compassionate, 
    slow to anger and rich in faithful love, 
    and You did not abandon them. 
    18 Even after they had cast an image of a calf 
    for themselves and said, 
    “This is your God who brought you out of Egypt,” 
    and they had committed terrible blasphemies, 
    19 You did not abandon them in the wilderness 
    because of Your great compassion. 
    During the day the pillar of cloud 
    never turned away from them, 
    guiding them on their journey. 
    And during the night the pillar of fire 
    illuminated the way they should go. 
    20 You sent Your good Spirit to instruct them. 
    You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, 
    and You gave them water for their thirst. 
    21 You provided for them in the wilderness 40 years 
    and they lacked nothing. 
    Their clothes did not wear out, 
    and their feet did not swell. 

    22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples 
    and assigned them to be a boundary. 
    They took possession 
    of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon 
    and of the land of Og king of Bashan. 
    23 You multiplied their descendants 
    like the stars of heaven 
    and brought them to the land 
    You told their ancestors to go in and take possession of it. 
    24 So their descendants went in and possessed the land: 
    You subdued the Canaanites who inhabited the land before them 
    and handed their kings and the surrounding peoples over to them, 
    to do as they pleased with them. 
    25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land 
    and took possession of well-supplied houses, 
    cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, 
    olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. 
    They ate, were filled, 
    became prosperous, and delighted in Your great goodness. 

    26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against You. 
    They flung Your law behind their backs 
    and killed Your prophets 
    who warned them 
    in order to turn them back to You. 
    They committed terrible blasphemies. 
    27 So You handed them over to their enemies, 
    who oppressed them. 
    In their time of distress, they cried out to You, 
    and You heard from heaven. 
    In Your abundant compassion 
    You gave them deliverers, who rescued them 
    from the power of their enemies. 
    28 But as soon as they had relief, 
    they again did what was evil in Your sight. 
    So You abandoned them to the power of their enemies, 
    who dominated them. 
    When they cried out to You again, 
    You heard from heaven and rescued them 
    many times in Your compassion. 
    29 You warned them to turn back to Your law, 
    but they acted arrogantly 
    and would not obey Your commands. 
    They sinned against Your ordinances, 
    which a person will live by if he does them. 
    They stubbornly resisted, 
    stiffened their necks, and would not obey. 
    30 You were patient with them for many years, 
    and Your Spirit warned them through Your prophets, 
    but they would not listen. 
    Therefore, You handed them over to the surrounding peoples. 
    31 However, in Your abundant compassion, 
    You did not destroy them or abandon them, 
    for You are a gracious and compassionate God. 

    32 So now, our God—the great, mighty, 
    and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant — 
    do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, 
    our kings and leaders, 
    our priests and prophets, 
    our ancestors and all Your people, 
    from the days of the Assyrian kings until today. 
    33 You are righteous concerning all that has come on us, 
    because You have acted faithfully, 
    while we have acted wickedly. 
    34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors 
    did not obey Your law 
    or listen to Your commands 
    and warnings You gave them. 
    35 When they were in their kingdom, 
    with Your abundant goodness that You gave them, 
    and in the spacious and fertile land You set before them, 
    they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways. 

    36 Here we are today, 
    slaves in the land You gave our ancestors 
    so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. 
    Here we are—slaves in it! 
    37 Its abundant harvest goes to the kings 
    You have set over us, 
    because of our sins. 
    They rule over our bodies 
    and our livestock as they please. 
    We are in great distress. 


38In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests. 

Nehemiah 10
1 Those whose seals were on the document were: 

    Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, 
    2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 
    3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 
    4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 
    5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 
    6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 
    7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 
    8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. 
    These were the priests. 

    9 The Levites were: 
    Jeshua son of Azaniah, 
    Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, 
    10 and their brothers 
    Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 
    11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 
    12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 
    13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu. 

    14 The leaders of the people were: 
    Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 
    15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 
    16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 
    17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 
    18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 
    19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 
    20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 
    21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 
    22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 
    23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 
    24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 
    25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 
    26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 
    27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 

28 The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God— 29 join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath lto follow the law of God given through God’s servant Moses and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh our Lord. 


    30 We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons. 
    31 When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day. We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year and will cancel every debt. 
    32 We will impose the following commands on ourselves: 
    To give an eighth of an ounce of silver yearly for the service of the house of our God: 33 the bread displayed before the LORD, uthe daily grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbath and New Moon offerings, the appointed festivals, the holy things, the sin offerings to atone for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 
    34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral houses at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God’s house to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law. 
    35 We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the LORD’s house year by year. 36 We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in our God’s house. 37 We will bring a loaf from our first batch of dough to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the firstfruits of our grain offerings, of every fruit tree, and of the new wine and oil. A tenth of our land’s produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns. 38 A priest of Aaronic descent must accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites must take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. 39 For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God. 

[9:5] - List:
            1. God’s provision/promise
            2. Jews disobedience
            3. God curses
            4. Jews repentance

 [9:37] - The prayer is structured in the sequence of events that follows, as indicated by the verse numbers:
         6               Creation
         7–8           Covenant with Abraham
                 A You, God created heaven and earth, and gave land to our father Abraham (verses 6–8)
         9–11         Exodus from Egypt
                 B God worked wonders in Egypt, the Red Sea and the desert (verses 9–12)
         12–21       Wilderness wanderings
                 C God spoke by giving his law through Moses (verses 13–15)
                 D God forgives and is merciful; they blaspheme (verses 16–18)
                 E God gave them his good Spirit and blessing in the desert (verses 19–21)
         22–25       Possession of the land
                 E’ God in his goodness gave them prosperity in the promised land (verses 22–25, land occurs 7 times)
         26–31       Rebellion
                 D’ God delivered them in his mercy; they blaspheme (verses 26–28)
                 C’ God warned them by the prophets (verses 29–31)
         32–37       Final plea[1]
                 B’ God acted faithfully; we acted wickedly (verses 32–35)
                 A’ God gave land to our fathers; but we are slaves on it (verses 36–37)[2] 

[10:33] - According to Exodus 30:11–16 the temple gift was to be one-half a shekel annually, but here it was valued lightly.
         - These temple offerings gave the priests and Levites money for maintaining the bread on the table of the Presence, for making various offerings, for celebrating monthly and annual festivals, and carrying out other duties.[1]

[1] Getz, G. A. (1985). Nehemiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 691). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.  
[1] Noss, P. A., & Thomas, K. J. (2005). A Handbook on Ezra and Nehemiah. (P. Clarke, S. Brown, L. Dorn, & D. Slager, Eds.) (pp. 423–424). New York: United Bible Societies.
[2] Noss, P. A., & Thomas, K. J. (2005). A Handbook on Ezra and Nehemiah. (P. Clarke, S. Brown, L. Dorn, & D. Slager, Eds.) (p. 424). New York: United Bible Societies.

Nehemiah 6
1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it —though at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates — 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of the Ono Valley.” But they were planning to harm me. 
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply. 
5 Sanballat sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations—and Geshem kagrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king 7 and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: “There is a king in Judah.” These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together. 
8 Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” 9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, “They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.” 
But now, my God, strengthen me.
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said: 
    Let us meet at the house of God 
    inside the temple. 
    Let us shut the temple doors 
    because they are coming to kill you. 
    They are coming to kill you tonight! 
11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live? I will not go.” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me. 
14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me. 
15 The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. 16 When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God. 
17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. 19 These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. 

Nehemiah 7
1 When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. 2 Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3 I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.” 
4 The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet. 5 Then my God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it: 
6 These are the people of the province who went up among the captive exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Each of them returned to Jerusalem and Judah, to his own town. 7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. 
The number of the Israelite men included: 
    8 Parosh’s descendants       2,172 
    9 Shephatiah’s descendants       372 
    10 Arah’s descendants       652 
    11 Pahath-moab’s descendants: 
    Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants       2,818 
    12 Elam’s descendants       1,254 
    13 Zattu’s descendants       845 
    14 Zaccai’s descendants       760 
    15 Binnui’s descendants       648 
    16 Bebai’s descendants       628 
    17 Azgad’s descendants       2,322 
    18 Adonikam’s descendants       667 
    19 Bigvai’s descendants       2,067 
    20 Adin’s descendants       655 
    21 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah       98 
    22 Hashum’s descendants       328 
    23 Bezai’s descendants       324 
    24 Hariph’s descendants       112 
    25 Gibeon’s descendants       95 
    26 Bethlehem’s and Netophah’s men       188 
    27 Anathoth’s men       128 
    28 Beth-azmaveth’s men       42 
    29 Kiriath-jearim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s men       743 
    30 Ramah’s and Geba’s men       621 
    31 Michmas’s men       122 
    32 Bethel’s and Ai’s men       123 
    33 the other Nebo’s men       52 
    34 the other Elam’s people       1,254 
    35 Harim’s people       320 
    36 Jericho’s people       345 
    37 Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people       721 
    38 Senaah’s people       3,930. 
39 The priests included: 
    Jedaiah’s descendants of the house of Jeshua       973 
    40 Immer’s descendants       1,052 
    41 Pashhur’s descendants       1,247 
    42 Harim’s descendants       1,017. 
43 The Levites included: 
    Jeshua’s descendants: of Kadmiel 
    Hodevah’s descendants       74. 
44 The singers included: 
    Asaph’s descendants       148. 
45 The gatekeepers included: 
    Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants, 
    Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants, 
    Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants       138. 
46 The temple servants included: 
    Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants, 
    Tabbaoth’s descendants, 47 Keros’s descendants, 
    Sia’s descendants, Padon’s descendants, 
    48 Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants, 
    Shalmai’s descendants, 49 Hanan’s descendants, 
    Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants, 
    50 Reaiah’s descendants, Rezin’s descendants, 
    Nekoda’s descendants, 51 Gazzam’s descendants, 
    Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants, 
    52 Besai’s descendants, Meunim’s descendants, 
    Nephishesim’s descendants, 53 Bakbuk’s descendants, 
    Hakupha’s descendants, Harhur’s descendants, 
    54 Bazlith’s descendants, Mehida’s descendants, 
    Harsha’s descendants, 55 Barkos’s descendants, 
    Sisera’s descendants, Temah’s descendants, 
    56 Neziah’s descendants, Hatipha’s descendants. 
57 The descendants of Solomon’s servants included: 
    Sotai’s descendants, Sophereth’s descendants, 
    Perida’s descendants, 58 Jaala’s descendants, 
    Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants, 
    59 Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants, 
    Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, Amon’s descendants. 
    60 All the temple servants 
    and the descendants of Solomon’s servants       392. 
61 The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their families and ancestors were Israelite: 
    62 Delaiah’s descendants, 
    Tobiah’s descendants, 
    and Nekoda’s descendants       642 
63 and from the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai—who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name. 64 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood. 65 The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim. 
    66 The whole combined assembly numbered       42,360 
    67 not including their 7,337 male and female slaves, 
    as well as their 245 male and female singers. 
    68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 
    69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 
70 Some of the family leaders gave to the project. The governor gave 1,000 gold coins, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments to the treasury. 71 Some of the family leaders gave 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 silver minas to the treasury for the project. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments. 73 So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple singers, some of the people, temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, 

Nehemiah 8
1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the LORD had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 
7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, pexplained the law to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the LORD is your stronghold.” 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.” 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them. 
13 On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month. 15 So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written.” 16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops, and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole community that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. They had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was tremendous joy. 18 Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance.

Nehemiah 6
    [2] Ono Valley - 25 miles NW of Jerusalem… similar to going from Fishers, IN to Lebanon or Frankfort, IN
         - Jerusalem sat much higher geographically than the rest of Israel.
    [9] - Who invents these rumors?
         - Nehemiah prays again.
    [11] - We know Nehemiah as a leader, builder and a governor… not a priest. He is a layman.
         - Numbers 18:7 - But you and your sons will carry out your priestly responsibilities for everything concerning the altar and for what is inside the veil, and you will do that work. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but an unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary will be put to death.” [1]
         - Septuagint: Hebrew Bible translated into Greek suggests that Nehemiah was eunich in 2:6. Doubly worse!
      [14] - Another Nehemiah prayer!
      [15] - Remember… they were laughing at them and saying it couldn’t ever be done by them.
         - Josephus regards this relatively brief time frame as improbable; he refers to a period of two years and four months (Ant. 11.5.8).[1]

Nehemiah 7
      [73] - When the seventh month came (6 days passed into the month of Tishri)

Nehemiah 8
      [12] - It was Super Sunday!
      [18] - A day of nothing… rest from the celebration!
         - You see what has occurred here…
         - The Lord has delivered His people…
         - The Lord protected His people…
         - They celebrated what the Lord has obviously done!
         - You have more reason to celebrate today other than a football team winning a game.
[1] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 6:15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Nehemiah 5
1 There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2 Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” 
6 I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word. 9 Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. 11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.” 
12 They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” 
So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!” 
The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised. 

14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years —I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. 15 The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land. 
17 There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table. 18 Each day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every 10 days. But I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. 
19 Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people. 

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Nehemiah 5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Did you survive?
         - Blue Monday… 3rd Monday of January
         - The most depressing day of the year
         - Weather conditions, debt level (the difference between debt accumulated and our ability to pay), time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action.
         
         - 5:1–5. Up to this point Nehemiah’s challenges as a spiritual leader focused primarily on those outside of Judah.
         - But before the walls were finally rebuilt, he encountered the most difficult and intense kind of problem almost every spiritual leader has to face sometime—problems within.
         - For Nehemiah, those problems centered not on Sanballat, Tobiah, or Geshem but on his own people, the Jews.
         - There were four such difficulties.
         1) First, the people face a food shortage. They said they needed to get grain for food to keep themselves and their families alive (v. 2). The work on the wall hindered their tending their crops. And this crop failure was called a famine.
         2) Second, others had grain (buying it from others), but to get it they had to mortgage their fields … vineyards, and homes (v. 3).
         3) Third, others, not wanting to mortgage their property, had to borrow money from their Jewish brothers to pay property taxes to King Artaxerxes (v. 4). This problem was compounded by the fact that they were charged exorbitant interest rates by their own Jewish brothers.
         4) This led to a fourth problem. To repay their creditors they had to sell their children into slavery (v. 5). This of course left them in a hopeless state.[1]

         [6] - What do you think Nehemiah did during this time he was “seriously considering the matter.”?
         - Deuteronomy 15:7-11

         [9] - Have they already forgotten about their ancestors who suffered through the Egyptian bondage and Babylonian captivity?

         [10] - “Hundredth part” – 1% a month = 12% a year
         - Nehemiah wasn’t asking them to do anything he hadn’t already done or was willing to do.

         [12] - Nehemiah knew that some of the noble people would struggle with actually following through with their commitment so he basically added a curse if they didn’t.
         - It was like brushing the dust off your feet.
         - Asking the Lord to have nothing to do with them.
         - At least for a season.
         - Promise Keepers

         [15] - Interesting that Nehemiah chose to do this out of the “fear of God”. 
         - Today, there is not a need to do it out of fear… we do it because the Spirit leads us to do it.
         [16] - I set myself apart from previous leaders.

         [18] - This statement leads us to believe that Nehemiah provided much of this out of his own expense.
         [19] - Nehemiah closes this chapter by praying.
         - This is the same way he closes the whole book. (13:31)

What would you do for your kids?
Matthew 7:11
I trust that the heavenly Father is going to take care of my needs far more than I could ever imagine.

[1] Getz, G. A. (1985). Nehemiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 683). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Ezra 3
Ezra 4

Ezra – Nehemiah Timeline
         - 465–425 BC - Artaxerxes Reign
         - 464–446 BC – Construction in Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4)
         - 444 BC – Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2)

“At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.”

Nehemiah 2
         - Have you ever been overwhelmed with fear?

         - Court etiquette required those in the king’s presence to have a cheerful countenance;
         - thus, sadness on his part could lead to his dismissal.
         - Alternatively, Nehemiah may have feared for his life.
         - If Artaxerxes suspected foul play, Nehemiah could be imprisoned or executed.
         - It is also possible that the king might be unwilling to grant his request.
         - Nehemiah waited months, and the crucial moment had finally arrived.

         - Ancestral tombs were universally respected throughout the ancient Near East, especially among the nobility and royalty.

         - Nehemiah returns to Susa after 12 years in Jerusalem, suggesting he requested a 12-year leave of absence (5:14; 13:6)

         - The Persian province “across the river,” referring to the area from the Euphrates to Egypt, which included Syria-Palestine.

         - Ezra (7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31)
_________________________________________
         - 444BC now
         - Time enough to gather supplies

         - Nehemiah’s governorship effectively took away any authority the governors had over the region of Judah.
         - Their hands were tied.
         - Israelites were permitted to regroup, fortify & build strength.

         - Ezra’s caravan also rested for three days following its journey to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:32)

         - A donkey is more probable since it is quieter than a horse.

         - Temple mount – 144,000 Square Ft. 20 football fields.
         - Probably located near the southwest corner of the city, opening into the Hinnom Valley (Gehenna).
         - Probably destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.
         - This the place in the city where they came to the wall and dumped their… dead bodies… and it constantly smelled.
         - Jesus and others often referred to this place in comparison with eternal punishment of the wicked.

         - Pool of Siloam… south of temple.
         - Same pool that Jesus told the blind man to wash the mud out of his eyes.

         - Kidron Valley – East side… where Jesus traveled with his disciples from the Passover to the Garden at Gethsemane.

         - Each individual is likely the governor of his respective region.
         - Together, they represent the nations surrounding Jerusalem and the territory of Judah on all three sides—Samaria to the north, Ammon to the east, and Arabia to the south (the Mediterranean Sea borders Judah to the west).

         - Nehemiah is claiming that the opponents of the Jews have no civic, legal, or cultic rights in the Jerusalem community.[1]

Nehemiah not only had the backing of the King…
But he had the confidence that God had favor on him.
It is “knowing”… that carries you through fear.

[1] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 2). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Ezra – Nehemiah Timeline
           - 609 BC – Medes & Babylonians conquered the Assyrians
         - Cyrus reigned from 559-530 BC
         - 539 BC – Cyrus defeated Babylonians
         - Babylon today is Iraq
         - 538 BC - Cyrus decrees that Israelites can return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1)
         - 536 BC – Altar and Temple construction begins (Ezra 3)
         - 535-520 BC – Temple construction stopped (Ezra 4)
         - 522-486 BC – Darius Reign
         - 520 BC – Temple construction resumes (Ezra 5)
         - 515 BC – Temple is completed (Ezra 6)
         - 486–465 BC - Xerxes Reign
         - 465–425 BC - Artaxerxes Reign
         - 464–446 BC – Construction in Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4)
         - 458 BC – Ezra leads exiles to Jerusalem
         - 444 BC – Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2)
         - 444 BC – Ezra reads the Law (Nehemiah 8)
         - 433 BC – Nehemiah returns to Artaxerxes in Persia (Nehemiah 13)
         - 432 BC – Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to enforce the Law (Nehemiah 13)

Nehemiah - means “Yahweh comforts”; the name comes from the same root word as the name Nahum, meaning “comfort.”[1]

Nehemiah 1
         - Nehemiah is the only historical book written primarily in the first person.[2]
         - Chislev – Hebrew month for Nov-Dec
         - 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes would have been 445 BC

         - Chapter 2 starts at the month of Nisan (March-April)
         - 4 months of prayer and fasting and mourning.

         - Exodus 20 – Ten commandments.

         - Redeemed them from slavery of Egyptians.
         - Exodus 32 refers to God’s strong hand in redeeming them from Pharaoh and Egypt.

         - A cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table.
         - On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position.
         - He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and was sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before serving it.
         - His confidential relations with the king often gave him a position of great influence.
         - The position of cup bearer is greatly valued and given to only a select few throughout history.
         - Qualifications for the job were not held lightly but of high esteem valued for their beauty and even more for their modesty, industriousness and courage.

Bob Hamp – January 3, 2015

[1] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 1:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[2] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 1:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

     - Describe the spirit and attitude of the people the Sunday immediately after 9/11/2001.
     - Several months have passed since the company arrived in Jerusalem; it is now the ninth month (see 10:9).[1]

Ezra 9
         - Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - 1 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out many nations before you—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and powerful than you 2 and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you and you defeat them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. 3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, 4 because they will turn your sons away from Me to worship other gods. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you. 5 Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn up their carved images. 6 For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.[2][3]
        vs 2 - Loyalty to God alone was the issue at stake: Jewish men had married foreign women and made the mistake of adopting their wives’ gods (Mal 2:10–16).
         - It is likely that Jewish women were also marrying foreign men and adopting their gods and religious practices.
         - This directly opposed God’s desire to be exclusively worshiped and threatened the entire faith of the nation.[4]
        vs 3 - Ezra knew that it was for just this sort of sin that his nation had gone into captivity (cf. v. 7).
         - Perhaps he was afraid they would go into captivity again.[5]
         vs 15 - Ezra’s response is…
         1) He publicly grieved
         2) He sat down at the temple and processed
         3) He knelt in prayer
         4) Confessed
         5) Repented

Ezra 10
         vs 12 - God used individual leaders to bring community unity. In God’s work it is important to seek community decisions that indicate a unity of thought and heart.[6]
         vs 13 - It was December, the middle of the rainy season (October to mid-April), and the crowd trembled, not only because of the weather, but also because they were sure the heavy rain was a prelude to the judgment of God.
         vs 14 - It was suggested that Ezra empower the committee of priests and Levites to work with the leaders of the tribes, as well as the elders and judges of the towns (who knew their people), and let them determine who was guilty. It was impractical to try to interrogate so many people in one place, especially when the weather was so inclement; and the work couldn’t be done in a day.
         - On December 19, 458, the men of the two main tribes, Judah and Benjamin, plus exiles from the other tribes, gathered in the street before the temple to start the solemn investigation.
         vs 15 - Except for four men who dissented, the crowd agreed with this idea and promised to obey.
         vs 16 - Ezra made it clear that the mixed marriages would have to be dissolved, and he called upon the faithful Jews to separate themselves from those who had disobeyed God’s law.
         - Once again, Ezra was given counsel by others, and he accepted it. (Blessed is the leader who has open ears to the ideas of others!)
         vs 17 - Ten days later (v. 16), on December 29, Ezra and the leaders sat down together and began to investigate the matter.
         - Three months later, on March 27, 457, their work was finished.
         - They discovered over 100 offenders, including 27 priests, Levites, temple singers, and gatekeepers, people you would have expected to be models of obedience.
         - When spiritual leaders begin to sin, it doesn’t take long for other people to follow.
         - The total number of offenders was probably less than 1 percent of the residents.
         - However, it’s better to deal with these matters when the numbers are low, because the longer you wait, the more the sin will spread. Even one offender is one too many (Ecc. 9:18).
           vs 18 -     The guilty priests promised to put away their heathen wives, and they offered sacrifices to seek God’s forgiveness (Ezra 10:18–19). We assume that the other offenders listed followed their example.
           - God in His grace accepted their repentance and confession and granted them forgiveness.[7]

[1] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ezr 9:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Dt 7:1–6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Dt 23:3–6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ezr 9:2). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[5] Martin, J. A. (1985). Ezra. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 669). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Breneman, M. (1993). Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed., Vol. 10, p. 160). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be heroic (pp. 57–58). Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ezr 9:1–10:44). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Ezra 7
      - The temple was completed in 515 BC in the reign of Darius I.
      - After Darius’ death in 486 his son Xerxes ruled for 20 years (485–465).
      - Since Xerxes was the Ahasuerus mentioned in the Book of Esther, the events of that book occurred between Ezra 6 and 7.
      - Then Xerxes’ son Artaxerxes ruled from 464 to 424.
      - From 515 (Temple Built) to 458 (Artaxerxes’ seventh year) was 57 years.[1]
      - The name Ezra is probably a shortened form of Azariah, meaning “the Lord has helped.”
      vs 6 - The word also referred to a learned man who could read and write and a learned man who could teach what he read in God’s Law.
         - Ezra was called a “teacher” (sōp̱ēr) four times (Ezra 7:6, 11–12, 21; cf. v. 25).
         - The law of Moses is literally “the Torah of Moses”.
         - This refers to the Pentateuch, that is, the first five books of the Old Testament that were called the Torah.
         - Ezra had the blessing of the pagan King Artaxerxes as well as the blessing of the covenant God of Israel.
         - A few years later Nehemiah had an official position before the king (Neh. 1:11), but Ezra held no such position.
         - For the first of eight times in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, mention is made of God’s hand being on Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31; Neh. 2:8, 18).
         - It means that God’s active presence was with Ezra or that God acted with favor toward Ezra.
         vs 8 - Which was 458 BC
         vs 9 - The heart was the center of emotions for the Hebrews.
         - It was also the source of thought and the basis for decision-making and thus it was a symbol for one’s whole being.
         - Ezra had set his heart. The verb is a perfect form that has a basic meaning of “to be firm, ready, certain.”
         - The verbal form used here has a causative meaning, that is, “to direct, to set.”
         - In other words, Ezra “had devoted himself” or “had committed himself” to the purpose of studying, interpreting and teaching the Law.
         - Ezra’s action took place before the event of the previous verse; that is, because of what Ezra did, God’s hand was upon him.
         -To study in this context means “to inquire” or “to seek.”
         - I had 4 different mean this week seek me out and tell me that they wanted to seek wisdom, they wanted to pursue God, they wanted to know the heart of God.
         vs 11- No reason for the decree was given.
         - It can be surmised that Ezra had asked for permission to take a group back and that this decree was the official granting of his request.
         - The decree was sent to Ezra personally.
        vs 25 -  In return for granting these privileges the king was to receive some benefits from the expedition.
         - He wanted to avoid uprisings or feelings of anger against him (v. 23) and to have order in that part of his empire (vv. 25–26).
         vs 27 - Ezra added that the purpose of all this was to bring honor to the house of the Lord.
         - The privileges granted by Artaxerxes were for God’s glory, not Ezra’s.

Ezra 8
         vs 14 - The total number of men who returned was 1,514 including 18 heads of families and 1,496 other men.
         - With the 258 Levites assembled later (Ezra 8:15–20) the number came to 1,772.
         - With women and children, the group may have totaled between 4,000 and 5,000.
         - Even so, this group was much smaller than the near-50,000 on the first return (2:64–65).
         vs 15 - Levites were to function as teachers of the Law.
         - Therefore they were to have an extremely important role in the reestablished community.
         - The people desperately needed to understand the importance of the Law as they faced their situation as returnees from exile.
         - The Levites would have a difficult time in the new land for they were to be involved in the disciplined ministry of temple service.
          vs 20 - The men were able to secure 38 Levites from two families—18 from Sherebiah’s family and 20 from Jeshaiah’s relatives—as well as 220 … temple servants.
         - Only then was Ezra ready to start on the important journey.
         - Without the Levite teachers of the Law and people to serve at the temple all would be lost and the trip futile.
         vs 23 - Being humble before God shows one’s spiritual dependence, his acknowledgment that God is in total control.
         - Ezra did not want to ask for military protection (soldiers and horsemen) because he had already publicly announced that God would take care of the people as they returned.
         vs 30 - All this would be valued at many millions of dollars today.
         - No wonder Ezra was concerned about the people’s safety.
         vs 31 - The total journey was about 850 miles and must have been difficult for a group without a military escort.
         - The caravanned an average of 7.5 miles a day.
         - At 7.5 MPD = 850 miles = 113 days roughly or 4 months.
         - 9 He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him. [2]
         vs 36 - Those living in surrounding communities were in such awe of the return and how God provided for them and protected them that they too wanted to join in and provide for the people of God.

[1] Martin, J. A. (1985). Ezra. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 665). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Noss, P. A., & Thomas, K. J. (2005). A Handbook on Ezra and Nehemiah. (P. Clarke, S. Brown, L. Dorn, & D. Slager, Eds.) (p. 155). New York: United Bible Societies.