Author: “The words of Nehemiah” (1:1), though Jewish tradition says those words were put on paper by Ezra.
Date: Approximately 445 BC.
In Ten Words or Less: Returning Jewish exiles rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem.
Details: Nehemiah serves as “the king’s cupbearer” (1:11) in Shushan, Persia. As a Jew, he’s disturbed to learn that even though exiles have been back in Judah for nearly a hundred years, they have not rebuilt the city’s walls, devastated by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Nehemiah asks and receives the king’s permission to return to Jerusalem, where he leads a team of builders - against much pagan opposition - in reconstructing the walls in only fifty-two days. The quick work on the project shocks the Jews’ enemies, who “perceived that this work was wrought of our God” (6:16).
From Know Your Bible, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.
