BIBLE SUMMARY: NEHEMIAH

Book of Nehemiah Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.

Book of Nehemiah Chapter by Chapter Summary.

NEHEMIAH TOTAL CHAPTERS: 13

NEHEMIAH TOTAL VERSES: 406

TOTAL WORDS: 10,483

DATE WRITTEN: 445 – 425 BC

AUTHOR: Nehemiah

NEHEMIAH THEME: 

Struggle, success and Restoration. Completion Of Jerusalem’s Restoration

MAJOR CHARACTERS:

Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Haggai, Zechariah, Darius, and Sanballat.

BOOK OF NEHEMIAH KEY VERSES:

1:3: They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.

1:11: O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.

6:15-16: So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

NEHEMIAH SUMMARY

Book of Ezra and Nehemiah covers the events of the Jews returning from the Babylonian captivity. Near 520 BC after the takeover by Nebuchadnezzar, ultimately King Cyrus of Persia arose to power, and he decided to aid the Jews to return to Jerusalem. The Jews are counted and are permitted to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple. Nehemiah heard about Ezra and rebuilding of Temple. He got uneasy knowing there was no wall to protect the city. Nehemiah prayed God to use him to save the city. God accepted his prayer and softened the heart of Persian king Artaxerxes who not only permitted him to return but also gave him supplies for that and moreover made him Governor of that region. Nehemiah entered Jerusalem with a building project in mind mainly rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. This wall would distinguish God’s people from the surrounding groups, but was not intended to separate them from the world entirely. The wall was finished in 52 days despite opposition. Nehemiah left and returned back after 12 years and found that there has been backsliding in his absence. People left God’s way and he again took new measures and reforms regarding Tithe, Sabbath and intermarriages.

CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:

Chapter# 1 – Nehemiah’s Prayer For The People after hearing news from Jerusalem.

Chapter# 2 – The king granted my request to go. Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem. Nehemiah Inspects The Walls And Decides To Restore Them

Chapter# 3 – Organization Of The Work. List of sections of the wall and names of those  who built them

Chapter# 4 – Sanballat ridiculed and plotted to attack Jerusalem. Construction continues with workers armed. Nehemiah Overcomes Opposition From Sanballat.

Chapter# 5 – Nehemiah stops exploitation of some Jews who oppressed others by debts. Nehemiah Stopped The Rich From Taking Advantage Of The Poor Leaders canceled debts.

Chapter# 6 – Sanballat and Tobiah effort to trap and kill Nehemiah. Wall completed in 52 days. Enemies lost game.

Chapter# 7 – City gates and gatekeepers. Nehemiah ordered to guard Jerusalem. The Exiles Returned. Totals Of People And Gifts.

Chapter# 8 – Ezra: The Law is read and explained to the people.The people held the Feast of Booths.

Chapter# 9 – The Israelites confessed. Israel’s Vow Of Faithfulness. Review of Israel’s history from creation, Adam, Abraham, wilderness till exile.

Chapter# 10 – The leaders signed a covenant. The people made an oath We will not marry foreigners and live according to God’s law. List of laws Israel promised to keep

Chapter# 11 – Jerusalem repopulated. The leaders and one in ten of the people lived in Jerusalem. Lists of people groups who stayed in Jerusalem; list of other towns throughout Israel

Chapter# 12 – The Leaders And Servants In Jerusalem. Inauguration of the wall . Assignment Of Duties In The Temple.

Chapter# 13 – After 12 years Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem.  And foud that there has been backsliding in his absence. Took new measures and reforms regarding Tithe, Sabbath and intermarriages. Nehemiah Ensures That The Levites Receive Their Portion.