Key word: Restoration
Originally Nehemiah and Ezra were one book covering the return of the Jewish exiles from the decree of Cyrus in 538 B.C. to 420 B.C. when Nehemiah was governor of Judah. There is a 12-year gap between the book of Ezra and Nehemiah. Then 12 years of Nehemiah’s leadership is detailed, followed by a 12-year gap when Nehemiah returned to Persia, and then finally he returns.
As the book begins almost 100 years have now lapsed since the first return under Zerubbabel. The temple has been completed but the people had been unable to rebuild the city walls. Nehemiah is deplored by this situation and returns to rectify this problem. Not only does he restore the walls and the city, he also restores the people spiritually. Nehemiah has to overcome external enemies and internal lethargy to accomplish these two tasks.
His partner in spiritual restoration was the faithful scribe and priest Ezra. One of the greatest revivals in Scripture takes place under his preaching (8:1-8, 12-9:3). As the word was preached, the people responded with worship and obedience (8:6, 8; 9:3). The key verse is 8:8, which shows the importance of the word of God being taught and understood for spiritual restoration.
Key verse: Nehemiah 8:8 – “They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.”
