#Bible Timeless Truths. Background on the book of Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah is most likely not one of your most read books in the Bible. Since the next five weeks' Timeless Truths posts are based on Chapters 8-13, I decided to take this week to provide an overview of the book. That’s immediately below
by Rev. Chuck Swindoll.
by Rev. Chuck Swindoll.
Who wrote the book?
Jewish tradition identifies Nehemiah himself as the primary author of this historical book. Much of the book is written from his first-person perspective. Nothing is known about his youth or background; we meet him as an adult serving in the Persian royal court as the personal cupbearer to King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:11–2:1). This prestigious position reveals something of Nehemiah’s upright character. Though he remained in Persia after the exiles had been allowed to go home, he was highly interested in the state of affairs in Judah (his brother Hanani [1:2] had returned there earlier).
The book of Nehemiah could be read as a sequel to the book of Ezra, and some scholars believe the two were originally one work. It is possible that Ezra compiled Nehemiah’s original accounts with other material to create the book of Nehemiah. However, most scholars believe the book was written by Nehemiah.
Where are we?
The book of Nehemiah opens in the Persian city of Susa in the year 444 BC. Later that year, Nehemiah traveled to Israel, leading the third of three returns by the Jewish people following their seventy years of exile in Babylon. (The previous chapter on Ezra describes the earlier two returns.) Most of the book centers on events in Jerusalem. The narrative concludes around the year 430 BC, and scholars believe the book was written shortly thereafter.
Nehemiah is the last historical book of the Old Testament. Although the book of Esther appears after Nehemiah in the canon, the events in Esther occurred in the time period between Ezra 6 and 7, between the first and second returns of the people to Israel. The prophet Malachi was a contemporary of Nehemiah.
Why is Nehemiah so important?
Nehemiah was a layman, not a priest like Ezra nor a prophet like Malachi. He served the Persian king in a secular position before leading a group of Jews to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the city walls. “Nehemiah’s expertise in the king’s court equipped him adequately for the political and physical reconstruction necessary for the remnant to survive."
Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the Jews withstood opposition and came together to accomplish their goal. Nehemiah led by example, giving up a respected position in a palace for hard labor in a politically insignificant district. He partnered with Ezra, who also appears in this book, to solidify the political and spiritual foundations of the people. Nehemiah’s humility before God (see his moving intercessory prayers in chapters 1 and 9) provided an example for the people. He did not claim glory for himself but always gave God the credit for his successes.
What's the big idea?
Nehemiah recorded the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem, Judah’s capital city. Together, he and Ezra, who led the spiritual revival of the people, directed the political and religious restoration of the Jews in their homeland after the Babylonian captivity.
Nehemiah’s life provides a fine study on leadership. He overcame opposition from outsiders as well as internal turmoil. He exercised his administrative skills in his strategy to use half the people for building while the other half kept watch for the Samaritans who, under Sanballat, threatened attack (Nehemiah 4–7). As governor, Nehemiah negotiated peace among the Jews who were unhappy with Persian taxes. He exhibited a steadfast determination to complete his goals. Accomplishing those goals resulted in a people encouraged, renewed, and excited about their future.
Perhaps the biggest, most enduring issue arising from this time in Jewish history [the books of Ezra and Nehemiah], is the establishment of THE SAMARITANS, a group of Jew/Pagan people. By the time of Jesus, Samaritans were pariahs, Jewish in some forms, but unacceptable to “true Jews.”
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| Samaria was "in the way" for Jews traveling between Judea and Galilee. Jews making that trip, crossed the Jordan River and walked through Perea and Decapolis to avoid setting foot in Samaria. |
Because of the nearly sub-human treatment by Samaritans by Jews, Jesus uses a Samaritan in one of the most compelling parables he tells. Luke 10:25-37. A Samaritan woman is the example of God’s forgiveness to all people in “The Woman at the Well.” John 4 [Full Chapter]Verses 1-42.
I deleted some material from this Introduction to the Samaritans that wasn't pertinant to this post.
I do not recommend the site (bible.ca) beyond
what you see below in this font.
From their analysis:
Founder: Steve Rudd
Affiliation: Church of Christ
Headquarters: Steve Rudd lives in Hamilton, ON Canada
Practices: Seeks to analyze and present biblical doctrine and expose error
1. The anti-Jerusalem philosophies of the Samaritans originated with Jeroboam.
a. This is why we call the Samaritans, "Neo-Jeroboamites". Samaritans carry on the basic traditions that Jeroboam set in order in 931 BC when he set up two pagan worship centers to replace Jerusalem: Bethel and Dan.
b. The Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim venerated the Altar of Joshua which was built on Mt. Gerizim. The Samaritans chose Mt. Gerizim as their holy place because that is the original location of Joshua’s Altar.
c. See full outline on Joshua’s altar on Mt. Gerizim NOT Mt. Ebal
d. A small population that had been deported in 723 BC from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, were brought back by Shalmaneser and they intermarried with the Gentiles.
e. To the Samaritans, Mt. Gerizim is their "Jerusalem".
f. This has caused the Jews to hold the Samaritans with contempt to this day. The Samaritans and the Jews are historic enemies.
2. The Samaritans were a pagan sect that grew out of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim after their deportation in 723 BC into Assyria by Shalmaneser.
a. Assyrian king Shalmaneser V, 727-722 BC deported Israel into captivity in 723 BC, but died the following year.
b. Sargon II (Assyria) 722-705 BC sends a group of Assyrians to inhabit Samaria/Israel but YHWH kills them with lions which they interpret as an omen.
c. The Assyrians living in Israel ask Sargon II for a priest of Bethel who had been recently deported.
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f. At Bethel, following in the footsteps of Jeroboam (931 BC), idol worship stood beside the true worship of YHWH down to the Babylonian captivity of 587 BC.
g. After the return of Judah, the Samaritans ceased to worship idols, but they invented a brand new alternate religion where they chose Mt. Gerizim as their holy mountain in direct opposition to Jerusalem. This action was a continuation of Jeroboam's policy of separating the ten northern tribes from the one true God at Jerusalem. His famous quote: "It is too far for you to go up to Jerusalem… worship at Bethel or Dan" says it all.
h. The "Samaritans" intermarried with the pagans, a point of contention between them and the pure blooded Jews, that continued down to the woman at the well of John 4.
i. The Samaritans, therefore represented all the worst of the Jews in that they opposed God's choice of David, Jerusalem and polluted their bloodlines which forever disqualified them from producing the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
j. The woman at the well was told by Jesus that they were totally wrong and in error: "Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews." (John 4:21-22)
3. In the New Testament, Jesus used the "parable of the good Samaritan" as an example of how lost Samaritans can be more moral, than those who consider themselves saved.
4. The Samaritans had three periods of development:
a. Incubation stage in the anti-Jerusalem ideology promoted by Jeroboam which laid the ground work for the sect to develop. (931 - 723 BC)
b. The birth stage of becoming a formal "Samaritan sect" in reaction to Nehemiah's efforts to rebuilt Jerusalem as the center of Mosaic religion. (723 -538 BC)
c. The born again stage in their conversion to Christ by being baptized for the remission of their sins upon their confession of faith. (33 AD)
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