The Book of Nehemiah

The book was written for two main reasons: 1. It completed the historical record begun in the book of Ezra that describes the time when Jews returned to their homeland from captivity and exile in the Babylonian empire and gave an official order to release the Jews. 2. It also showed what God did for the people through the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra, as they led in the resettlement of Jerusalem. The focus of the book is mainly on the third stage of the Jews return to their land.


Chapters 1-7 describe Nehemiah's role as governor and as leader in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Chapter 1 reveals the spiritual depth of Nehemiah as a man devoted to prayer.


The second half of the book describes the spiritual revival and renewal that occurred among the people of Jerusalem, which was led by Ezra, the priest.  At the center of the people's spiritual revival was the public reading of God's Law, true repentance for sin and a new determination to live by their covenant with God. The last chapter records some of the final reforms that Nehemiah started during his second term as governor.
Five major features characterize the book of Nehemiah. 1. It records the last events of Jewish Old Testament history before the period between the Old Testament and New Testaments. 2. It provides historical background for Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Nehemiah and Malichi lived and served during the same time period. 3. Nehemiah is an excellent Biblical model for a godly leader in government: a man of wisdom, principle, courage, integrity, faith, compassion, dedication and organization. Throughout his years as governor, Nehemiah remained true to God, humble, free from greed, self-sacrificing and not prideful as a result of his reputation, position or power. 4. Nehemiah is one of the prime Old Testament examples of a praying leader. Eleven times he is described as coming to God in prayer for situations and other people. He was able to do what seemed impossible because of his complete dependence on God. 5. The book gives a precise picture of how prayer, sacrifice, hard work and the will to push forward go together in order to see a God-given vision come to pass.


This book records the restoration and completion of all the basic systems, or parts, of Judaism necessary for the coming of Christ at the beginning of the New Testament era. Everything was in place for the Messiah's coming. The time period reflected in Nehemiah ends with the prophetic hope that the Lord would soon come to His temple. The New Testament opens with the fulfillment of this expectation of hope.