a preliminary draft

After learning that the temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt, Nehemiah was concerned that there was no wall to protect the city. He asked God to use him to save the city and God answered by prompting the Persian king, Artaxerxes, to give his blessing, to provide supplies for the project, and to give Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem as governor.

The wall was built, the enemies silenced, and the people gave tithes of money, supplies, and manpower to complete the wall in 52 days, despite opposition. However, Jerusalem fell back into apostasy when Nehemiah left for a time. After 12 years he returned to find the people regressed. He taught them morality, reestablished true worship, and encouraged revival by reading and adhering to the Word of God.

Chapters 1-7 Nehemiah led and directed the building of the wall. Each family built the section of the wall in front of their houses. This enabled the remnant there to gain a sense of ownership in repairing the walls. When Israel's enemies saw what had been accomplished, the realized that this could only have been done with the help of God. (6:15-16).

Chapters, 8-13 After their long exile in Babylon, Israel became reestablished as a nation. Ezra led the Jews in renewal with public teaching of the Law. Observance of the Sabbath was reinstated. All the people gathered as one at the square in front of the Water Gate and asked Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given to Israel. 8:1.

They realized that the only way they could survive would be if they remembered and obeyed God's Laws.

Nehemiah established polices to govern them, condemned the mixed marriage that had occurred, and caused them to teach their children the Hebrew language, the language of Judah. 13:24.