The book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah descended from the tribe of Judah and was likely a member of the royal family. He

occupied the high post of the butler at the Persian court. In the 20th year of the reign of the Per-

sian  king  Artaxerxes Longiman  (465-424 B.C., i.e. in 446 B.C.), Nehemiah learned, from his

kinsmen that came from Palestine, about the desperate condition the city of Jerusalem was in. He

convinced the king to send him to his country as a ruler with high authority. He rebuilt the city

and surrounded it with walls, despite resistance on the part of the Samaritans. Having rebuilt and

populated the city and sanctified its walls, Nehemiah, together with Ezra, began to educate the

people  about  religion,  morals and the  life of society. The Law of Moses was read, the feast of

Tabernacles was celebrated, the rich forgave the debts of the poor,  the  covenant  between  the

people and God was renewed. Then Nehemiah returned to Artaxerxes, but later came to Jerusa-

lem again and uprooted various crimes among the people. Thus, during 30 years before his death,

Nehemiah labored to restore Jerusalem and strengthen the faith among the people.

  Just as Nehemiah continued the cause of Ezra, his book is also a continuation of the book of

Ezra. Ezra describes the beginning of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, namely the reconstruction of

the  temple  and  the  religious  and moral  education  of  the  people. Nehemiah deals  with  the con-

struction of the walls, the settlement and rebuilding of the city, the structure of the society based

on religious principles. Both books record the history of the people of God and show the ways of

God.s Providence by which the nation was saved and prepared for the coming of the promised

Messiah.

  The decree of Artaxerxes, issued to Nehemiah in 446 B.C., has a special significance as a

starting point for the weeks of Daniel related to the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah (Dan.

9:22-27).

  As  a  historical  reminder about God.s mercy to the chosen people, the book of Nehemiah

contains numerous lessons for us to learn. Nehemiah.s self-sacrificial love for his country and his

people, which caused him, like Moses, to neglect the luxury and comfort of the royal court, his

constant  hard  work  for  the  well-being  and glory of his country . all this provides us with a

model worthy of imitation.