Nehemiah 2


Nehemiah asks the king if he can go back to Jerusalem.

 

Nehemiah tells the king of Persia that he wants to go back to Jerusalem. From FreeBibleIllustrations.com

In the 9th month of the year (that month was named Nisan), Nehemiah went to see the king. It was the 20th year that Artaxerxes was the king. Nehemiah took some wine to the king.  Nehemiah felt very sad. It was the first time he felt sad when he was with the king.
[1] And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.


The king asked Nehemiah why he was sad. Nehemiah wasn't sick, so the king said he was depressed. Nehemiah was afraid.
[2] Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,


Nehemiah answered the king. He said he hoped the king would live forever. He said he was sad because of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the place where his ancestors were buried.  Now the city is in ruins (destroyed), and the gates are burned.
[3] And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?


The king wanted to know what Nehemiah wanted. Nehemiah prayed to God. Then, he told the king that he wanted the king to send him back to Judah. He wanted to go back to Judah so he can build Jerusalem again.
[4] Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
[5] And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.


The queen was there sitting by the king.  The king asked him how long it took to travel to Jerusalem. He also asked him when he would come back to Persia. Nehemiah told the king when he would come back. Then the king said he could go to Jerusalem.
[6] And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.


Nehemiah asked the king to give him special letters. He would give the letters to the governors of Persia's land on the other side of the Euphrates River. Then the governors will let him travel to Judah.
[7] Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;


He also asked for a special letter. The letter was for the man who was in charge of the king's forest. The man's name was Asaph. When Nehemiah gave Asaph the letter, Asaph would give him wood. Nehemiah would use the wood in Jerusalem. He would use the wood for the gates around the temple area, the city wall, and to make a house for himself. The king gave him the letters because God was helping Nehemiah.
[8] And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

 

Nehemiah travels back to Jerusalem.


Nehemiah started on his trip. The king of Persia sent some soldiers and army captains with him. They arrived at the areas on the other side of the Euphrates River. He gave the king's letters to the governors.
[9] Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

Two of the leaders were not happy about Nehemiah. The men were named Sanballat and Tobiah. Sanballat was from one of the areas named Horon. Tobiah was from the group of people named the Ammonites. They did not like Nehemiah coming to see about the Jews in Jerusalem.
[10] When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
 

Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and stayed there for 3 days.
[11] So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

 

Nehemiah secretly looks around Jerusalem.


One night, Nehemiah and a few men got up. God wanted Nehemiah to help the Jews build in Jerusalem, but Nehemiah didn't tell any of the men that. He didn't take any animals with him except the donkey he was riding.
[12] And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
 

He went to check on some of the places in Jerusalem. He went out the gate of the valley in front of the well that was shaped like a dragon.  He was by the place where they took out garbage. He saw the walls of the city of Jerusalem. They were broken down, and the gates were burned with fire.
[13] And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.


He went to see the gate of the fountain and the king's pool. It was too narrow for his donkey to walk through.
[14] Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.


While it was dark, he went up by the creek and looked at the wall. Then he went back in through the gate to the place where he was staying.
[15] Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.


None of the city leaders knew that he went to look around. He hadn't told anyone that he wanted to fix the walls. He had not told the Jews, the priest, the rich men, the leaders, or the workers.
[16] And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

 

Nehemiah tells the other Jews about his plan to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.


Nehemiah told the other people in Jerusalem about his plan. He told them that Jerusalem is not good right now. The gates were burned. He asked them to help him build the walls again. Then the Jews will not be thought of negatively.
[17] Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.


Nehemiah told them that God was helping him. He told them that the king of Persia said he could build Jerusalem again. The other people agreed with Nehemiah. They would help him build Jerusalem again.
[18] Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.


Three of the men in Jerusalem who were not Jewish laughed and made fun about this. They asked why they were doing that. They asked if they were rebelling (fighting against) the king of Perisa. The men's names were Sanballat (from the area of Horon), Tobiah (an Ammonite), and Geshem (from the place named Arabia). 
[19] But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?


Nehemiah told them that God in heaven will help them. They would work for God and build Jerusalem. He said that the 3 men have no part of Jerusalem. They have no rights there. Their ancestors did not live there.
[20] Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
 

Nehemiah 3

The Jews build the wall and gates around Jerusalem.
 

From FreeBibleIllustrations.com

Eliashib was the leader of the priests. He and the other priests built the sheep gate. They had a ceremony and made it holy. They put on the doors of the gate. They built the wall to the tower named Meah. They made it holy, then continued to build to the tower named Hananeel.
[1] Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.


The men from Jericho worked next to the priests.  The man named Zaccur (his father was Imri) worked next to the men from Jericho.
[2] And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.


The men from Hassenaah's family built the fish gate.  The put up the beams, doors, locks, and bars.
[3] But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
 

Meremoth (his father was Urijah, and Urijah's father was Koz) worked next to Hassenaah's family. The next worker was Meshullam (his father was Berechiah, and Berechiah's father was Meshezabeel). Next was Zadok (his father's name was Baana).
[4] And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.


The group of people named the Tekoites was next. They repaired the wall but their leaders did not work for the Lord God.
[5] And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.


Jehoiada (his father was Paseah) and Meshullam (his father was Besodeiah) repaired the old gate. They put the beams up and set up the doors, locks, and bars.
[6] Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
 

The next men were Melatiah (from the group of people named the Gibeonites), Jadon (from the group of people named the Meronothites), and the men from the places named Gibeon and Mizpah. These men worked to the governor's throne (he was the governor of the areas on the eastern side of the Euphrates River).
[7] And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.


The next man was Uzziel (his father was Harhaiah who made things with gold). Next was Hananiah (his father was a man who used spices to make oils). They worked to the broad (wide) wall.
[8] Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
 

The next man working on the wall was Rephaiah (his father was Hur). He was the leader of half of Jerusalem.
[9] And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.


The next man was Jedaiah (his father was Harumaph). He repaired the wall near his house. Next was Hattush (his father was Hashabniah).
[10] And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.


These men repaired the next part and also the tower of the furnaces: Malchijah (his father was Harim) and Hashub (his father was Pahath-moab).
[11] Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.


The next part was repaired by Shallum (his father was Halohesh). Shallum was the leader of the other half of Jerusalem. His daughters helped him work.
[12] And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.


Hanun and the people who lived in Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They put on the doors, locks, and bars. They also worked on 1,000 cubits (about 1,500 feet) of the wall that met the dung gate.
[13] The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.




This video shows the Jaffa gate and how the wall around Jerusalem looks now.


 

Malachiah (his father was Rechab) repaired the dung gate. Malachiah was the leader of part of Beth-haccerem (a big city near Jerusalem). Malachiah built the gate and put on the doors, locks, and bars.
[14] But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.


Shallum (his father was Col-hozeh) repaired the gate of the fountain. Shallum was the leader of part of Mizpah (a city near Jerusalem). He set up a cover over the gate. He set up the gate's doors, locks, and bars. He repaired the part of the wall from the gate to the pool of Siloah (near the king's garden). This part of the wall went to the stairs that go down from the part of Jerusalem that David lived in.  
[15] But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
 

Another man named Nehemiah (his father was Azbuk) worked on the wall. This Nehemiah was the leader of half of the city named Beth-zur. He repaired the wall that was near David's burial rock. His part of the wall went to a pool that King Hezekiah made and the place where soldiers lived.
[16] After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.


Two Levite men repaired the next part. They were Rehum (his father was Bani) and Hashabiah (he was the leader of half of the place named Keilah).
[17] After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.


Another Levite repaired the next part. He was Bavai (his father was Henadad). He was the other leader of half of Keilah.
[18] After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.


The next part of the wall went up to the place where they kept the army's weapons.  The man who repaired this part was Ezer (the son of Jeshua). He was the leader of Mizpah. 
[19] And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.


The next part was repaired by Baruch (his father was Zabbai). He worked hard and repaired the part of the wall that went to the door of the high priest's house. The high priest was Eliashib.
[20] After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.


Meremoth (his father was Urijah and his grandfather was Koz) repaired the next part. He repaired the part from the door of Eliashib's house to the end of the house.
[21] After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.


The next part was repaired by priests who came from the flat areas.
[22] And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.


Benjamin and Hashub fixed the part by their homes. Azariah (his father was Maaseiah and his grandfather was Ananiah) fixed the part by his house.
[23] After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.

Binnui (his father was Henadad) repaired the next part. He repaired the part from Azariah's house to the corner.
[24] After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.


Palal (his father was Uzai) fixed the next part. He fixed the part by the tower near the king's house. It was near the prison. Pedaiah (his father was Parosh) fixed the next part.
[25] Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.


The Nethinims (temple workers) lived in the area named Ophel. They fixed the wall in that area to the tower by the water gate.
[26] Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.


The men from the place named Tekoa fixed the next part. They fixed the part that went by the big tower to the area of Ophel.
[27] After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.


The priests repaired the wall from the horse gate. They lived in this area, and each priest fixed the wall near his house.
[28] From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.


The man named Zadok (his father was Immer) fixed the part of the wall by his house.  Shemaiah (his father was Shechaniah) fixed the next part. Shemaiah was in charge of the east gate.
[29] After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

Two men repaired the next part. They were Hananiah (his father was Shelemiah) and Hanun (his father was Zalaph, and Hanun had 5 older brothers). Meshullam (his father was Berechiah) fixed the part near his room.
[30] After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.


Malchiah (his father made gold items) fixed the next part. This part was by the temple workers' place and the merchants' (people who sold things) place. It was by the Miphkad gate. It went to the corner.
[31] After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.


The goldsmiths (men who made gold items) and merchants (men who sold things) fixed the next part. It was from the corner to the sheep gate.
[32] And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.