Summary of the Bible Book of Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Bible is a historical account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king, is called by God to return to Jerusalem and lead the reconstruction effort. Despite opposition and challenges, Nehemiah and his team successfully rebuild the walls in just 52 days. Along the way, they also work to restore the people’s faith and obedience to God.
Reading Nehemiah in 60 seconds or less
Chapter 1: Nehemiah hears of Jerusalem’s destruction; prays for mercy.
"O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant." – Nehemiah 1:11
Chapter 2: Nehemiah asks the king for permission to return to Jerusalem.
"And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." – Nehemiah 2:8
Chapter 3: The rebuilding of the walls begins with different groups working on different sections.
"Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, perfumer, repaired." – Nehemiah 3:8-9
Chapter 4: Opposition arises, but Nehemiah encourages the workers to trust in God.
"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome." – Nehemiah 4:14
Chapter 5: Nehemiah deals with internal conflicts and injustice among the people.
"The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God?" – Nehemiah 5:9
Chapter 6: Nehemiah faces threats and deception from his enemies but stays focused on the task.
"I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" – Nehemiah 6:3
Chapter 7: The rebuilt walls are dedicated and the people’s genealogy is recorded.
"All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses." – Nehemiah 8:1
Chapter 8: Ezra reads the Law to the people, who repent and celebrate the Feast of Booths.
"This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." – Nehemiah 8:9
Chapter 9: The people confess their sins and God’s goodness throughout history.
"But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." – Nehemiah 9:17
Chapter 10: The people make a covenant with God to obey His laws and serve Him only.
"We will not neglect the house of our God." – Nehemiah 10:39
Chapter 11-13: Nehemiah returns to Persia and then comes back to Jerusalem to deal with ongoing issues.
"Remember me, O my God, for good." – Nehemiah 13:31
Encouragement to read the entire book of Nehemiah:
Nehemiah’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and leadership. His commitment to God and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls is a powerful example for us today. By reading the entire book of Nehemiah, we can learn how to overcome obstacles, trust in God’s provision, and work towards the restoration of our own lives and communities.