Summary Nehemiah's Arrival Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13:6 "But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:"

Verses 1-3 refers back to Deuteronomy when the Ammonite and Moabite refused to help the children of Israel as they came out of the wilderness. It was when Balaam was involved with putting a curse on Israel but God turned it to a blessing.

Deuteronomy 23:3 "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD forever; v4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee."

So Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and found the Ammonites and Moabites mingled with the Jews and cast the out of the congregation.

Verse 4-9 is about Tobiah who was the servant of the current governor. He had allied himself with Eliashib, a priest who had charge over the chamber of the house of God. The chamber was supposed to be used for offerings but was made into a home for Tobiah. Nehemiah cast his stuff out of the temple.

v8 "And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber."

We are seeing here the fiery character of Nehemiah. He was chosen by the king to be his cupbearer for a reason. He was surely a strong man.

v10-14 deals with the food the Levites were suppose to be getting. They were not getting their portion of food and so had to return to the fields to gather for themselves so they could eat. Nehemiah set that right so they could again do their job.

v11 "Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the House of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place."

Verses 15-22 deals with the sabbath. People were doing stuff on the sabbath they should not do and were making it a day of deal making like a flea market. Nehemiah stopped the activity and again threatens to get physical if they do not comply.

v21 "Then I testified against them; and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath."

Verses 23-31 concerns the Jews being married to wives of other nations. The children could not even speak the language of the Jews. Nehemiah got pretty rough with them. He expressed his deep concern that the men would be drawn away by the wives as even Solomon was.

He proposed the question: v27 "Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?" In verse 36 he calls them "...nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin."

In verse 28 Nehemiah found out that the high priest was married to the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite and so he "...chased him from me."

So after going through the book of Nehemiah, we find a little about the person Nehemiah. He seems to have come into Judah with the blessings of the king and like a whirlwind wasting no time with diplomacy to fix what he say was wrong. After all, he had given the king a time for when he would return.

That closes the book of Nehemiah for now. Next we go to Esther (pronounced with the 'h').

Malachi 3:16 "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name."

Nehemiah recounts his arrival and deeds.
Dedication of wall.http://oldoldstory.blogspot.com/2009/03/dedication-of-wall-nehemiah-12.html

Dedication of Wall Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12:47 "And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron."

We again see a list of names. I think this chapter is retro and is a summary of the people and the events of the time.

The book of Ezra covers about 80 years and Nehemiah covers about 11 years. Nehemiah came up after Ezra (14 years)and set things in order. I do not quite get the time frame of Zerubbabel but it seems he was the strong man of the people who returned.

In reading these books we should do some remembering. Israel was redeemed out of Egypt as slaves. The wondered in the wilderness where they were taught to trust in the one true God and learned the law there. They rose to the greatest nation on earth under David and Solomon. They turned from God and worshipped idols and as a result were taken away into captivity. They were granted permission to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild it. Most of the people choose to stay in Babylon and Assyria because they prospered there. A remnant, with a heart for God, came back and did the rebuilding of Jerusalem. These books are their stories.

v27 "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgiving and with singing with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps."

It is a flashback to the procedures set up by David to praise the LORD. The people were divided into two groups and they climbed the steps above David's house and joined at the top to dedicate the wall.

v43 "Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off."

The chapter places emphasis on the singers set up by David and Solomon, Asaph was chief in the old days. His descendants carry on the talent for the LORD. Looking in the book of Psalms, you will see the name of Asaph on many of the chapters.

v46 "For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God."

So to some degree we see now the shame taken away. The destroyed city of Jerusalem represented the nation Israel and the shame they bore for turning from the LORD. It is a physical sign of their spiritual revival.

Next we have the last chapter of Nehemiah.

Malachi 1:5 "And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel."

Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.

Who will live in Jerusalem?

Down by the River Ezra 8

Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people and the priests and found there none of the sons of Levi."

Ezra is setting off on his journey with Artaxerxes', the king, approval. He is gathering those he will take with him and found that there were no Levi's among them. They needed the Levi's to offer sacrifices and do service in the house of the LORD as prescribed by Moses.

v17 "And I sent the with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God."

I am not sure who Iddo was but he had a lot of pull in the neighborhood. So did Ezra.

v18 "And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding..."

Also, a number of other people to minister, as Ezra requested. Once Ezra had the right people to go up to Jerusalem with him, he made the effort to prepare them and to seek the LORD. He declared a fast.

v21 "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance."

The situation is this, they were traveling with their family and with the treasures for the house of the LORD. There were reasons for highway robbers to be interested in attacking them. Ezra separated men to take the treasure and to guard it safely to Jerusalem. Ezra did not want to ask for the kings help because he had already told the king that God would care for them.

v23 "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us."

v31 "Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way."

We are seeing names we remember from previous studies i.e. Eleazar, Phinehas.

Included in this chapter is the genealogy of those who went up to Jerusalem and the amount of the sacrifices made: i.e. 96 rams, 77 lambs, etc. It was a big event.

Zechariah 4:6 "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

Ezra gathers his company to go to Jerusalem.

Ezra's Authority Ezra 7

v6 "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him."

Artaxerxes, king of Persia, gave Ezra the authority to take anyone who wanted to go with him, to Jerusalem. He also had legal authority to exact judgment on anyone who hindered or did not obey his commands in building the house of the LORD. He also had authority over the treasures to be taken to Jerusalem. It was a monumental task and the LORD had put in the heart of the king to give him the monumental power to fulfill the task. Ezra traced his roots all the way back to Aaron. He also studied to know the law.

v10 "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

We must remember that it has been 70 years. Many of those carried away have died and their children were raised in a foreign land. They probably were not all taught the law.

Here is the blank check given to Ezra

v18 "And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God."

v23 "Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

Ezra does not take credit for getting all this accomplished.

v27 "Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. v28 And hath extended mercy unto me..."

Ezra was a scribe, although I have had trouble figuring out the sequence of events and kings, it seems to me that the first part of Ezra is Ezra's description of what happened, then in this chapter he starts to tell the story from a personal point-of-view. I am not sure about that though.

Zechariah 6:15 "And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts, hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

Ezra's authority to build the temple.

Manasseh II Chronicles 33

II Chronicles 33:1 "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem;" See II Kings 21:1 also

It seems a long time for a bad king to reign but there is a difference with Manasseh. He turned his life around by humbling himself before God.

v2 "But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel."

He did the usual stuff but with a lot of enthusiasm.
v3 "For he built again the high places... v4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD... v5 And he built altars ...in the two courts... v6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire...observed times, and used enchantments...witchcraft...v7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made in the house of God..."

He tried about everything that was against the teachings of the law, so it appears. He did not get away with it though.

v10 "And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they would not hearken. v11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria which took Manasseh among the thorns and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon."

Manasseh had a good example in Hezekiah but there must have been other influences in his life. It is often the case when a man of God is off busy with the LORD's work, his children take advantage of his absence to do mischief. Most grow out of it and return to their teachings, some do not.

v12 "And when he was in affliction he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. v13 And prayed..."

God heard and brought him back to his homeland where he tried to undo all the evil he had done such as set up the idols. He started out really bad but ended up trying to honor God.

He had a son named Amon who started to reign at 22 years old but did evil. He reigned only two years before his servants killed him who in turn lost their lives to the people. Instead of humbling himself as his father did v23 "...Amon trespassed more and more."

Isaiah 32:1 "Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment."

Manasseh humbles himself before the Lord.

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Hezekiah Part 2 II Chronicles 30

II Chronicles 30:1 "And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel."

Hezekiah is the king of Judah but he is now reaching out to the whole nation to observe the passover. He is a man with a broader view that just his immediate area. He is considering the law as it applies to all Israel. It is a profound move on his part if you consider the history we have studied concerning the wars and killing between the two nations (or the two divisions of the original nation).

v5 "So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written."

The posts went out and were met with scorn and laughter in Israel. Yet it did have some effect for many showed up from these places, although not as a unified nation.

v11 "Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem."

They were not disappointed for it was a grand occasion. In fact, it is described as the best event since Solomon's time.

There is a demonstration of grace in this chapter. The LORD was pleased with the effort of his people to honor his commandment by observing the passover. After all, it represented their deliverance from death while judgment was being executed on the firstborn of Egypt.

When some were not cleansed, as they were taught, the LORD heard Hezekiah's prayer for them and healed them so that they could observe the passover. Hezekiah prayed in v18 "...The good LORD pardon everyone."

v20 "And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people." See Exodus 15:26 James 5:16

Hezekiah did not miss the opportunity but had great patience with the Levites who were taxed greatly by all the work involved in preparing the sacrifices.

v22 "And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD:..."

It went so well that they extended it seven more days as Solomon did in I Kings 8:65.

v27 "Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven." See Numbers 6:23

One thing that stands out in the reign of Hezekiah is that there was a lot of praying going on. The Bible plainly says that the LORD heard them.

note: Although the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were often drawn to idols and away from the LORD, there were prophets in the land which warned them and counseled them. Isaiah was available to Hezekiah while Elijah and Elisha were in Israel.

Isaiah 32:17 "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." See Luke 2:14

Hezekiah and the people observe the passover.

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Hezekiah Part 1 II Chronicles 29

II Chronicles 29:1 "Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. V2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done."

We will notice first that Hezekiah is the son of a very bad king named Ahaz. Next we see that his mother is mentioned, her name was Abijah. It is the grace of God that Hezekiah was such a good king after the example he had but his mother must have surely taught him for many years before he was king.

A lot is written about Hezekiah and it takes several chapters to tell his story. So much so that some have mistakenly said that there is a book of the Bible called Hezekiah. Indeed more is written of him by the prophet Isaiah as noted in chapter 32 verse 32. See Isaiah chapters 36-39.

v3 "He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them."

The Levites are called in to prepare themselves to do service in the house of the LORD. Hezekiah recounts the wrongs that have been done and encourages them to do the work.

v15 "And they gathered their brethren and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD."

It took them eight days to sanctify the house of the LORD. v17 They went to work on the vessels and got everything in order.

v20 "Then Hezekiah the king, rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

So the brought sacrifices and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They brought forth goats for the sin offering and made reconciliation with their blood on the altar. v23-24. All Israel was included in these offerings. v24. It was Hezekiah's intention to bring all Israel together at the house of the LORD.

With the house of the LORD prepared, they began the worship service.

v28 "And all the congregation worshipped and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished."

Much was done that day. They sang the songs of David and Asaph and offered the offerings as in Leviticus 7:12, the thank offerings.

v35b "...So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order."

v36 "And Hezekiah rejoiced and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly."

So, Hezekiah started to rebuild Judah and reached out to Israel by first getting the house of the LORD in order and the hearts of the people turned toward God again. The faith of the people was centered on the house of the LORD and when it was in disarray so was their faith.

Next we continue with Hezekiah in chapter 30. What did he do next?

Psalm 34:11 "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Hezekiah, a good king of Judah, starts to rebuild.

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