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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Nehemiah 4 | Nehemiah | shepherd_meye | 191439 | ||
Our next bible study topic is Chapter 4 of Nehemiah, if you could please interpret? Thanks, Shepherd_meye |
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2 | Nehemiah 4 | Nehemiah | rabban | 191440 | ||
Like Joseph and Moses, Nehemiah was raised by God to high office in a foreign court in order that he might be ready to carry forward God's purpose for God's people, in his case for Jerusalem. As the king's cupbearer he was one of the most powerful men in Persia. (Compare the Rabshakeh who held a similar position in Assyria - 2 Kings 18.17, 19 ff). It was a position that could only be held by someone who was totally trusted by the king. When the servants brought the king's wine the Cupbearer would take it from them and taste it before passing it to the King. Thus he was the one man who could poison the king. He held high office and would also have great responsibilities. (Becoming governor of Judah would be a demotion). So Nehemiah was a powerful and trusted servant of the king of Persia. Indeed only one who was as trusted as he was would have been allowed to do what he did. Jerusalem had been resettled after the exile by Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1.8)and those who returned with them, and a small temple had been built. But it was little more than a huddle of buildings, unprotected and vulnerable. Most of the returnees probably settled outside Jerusaelm. Jerusalem seemingly came within the province of Samaria, which would be ruled by a governor appointed by the Persians. It was in his interests to prevent Jerusalem from becoming important as a rival to Samaria. And Jerusalem had a reputation for being rebellious. Sanballat was probably at this time the governor of Samaria (he certainly was later).He was probably a syncretistic Yahwist (as we know from his sons' names). Tobiah's name suggests that he also was a syncretistic Yahwist. He was clearly a powerful aristocrat and held high office (as 'the servant') possibly in Ammon. The arrival of Nehemiah with the king's authority would have infuriated them. They dared not openly oppose him, but along with other neighbouring groups (Ammonites, Ashdodites and Arabs) they determined to undermine what Nehemiah was doing. This was why no army is involved. Anything that happened had to be portrayable as performed by bandits. It was after all rebellion against the king's commands. This explains why such a powerful coalition were unable to directly prevent the work. It had to be done surreptitiously as far as the outside world were concerned. Nehemiah the new governor of Judah and Jerusalem set about rebuilding the walls in accordance with the authority given to him by the king. The first attempt against them was one of ridicule. They tried to discourage the local returnee Jews who were supporting Nehemiah Did they not recognise that they were wasting their time. Their walls were pathetic and would only fall down (4.2-3). Nehemiah combated that with prayer (probably public in order to encourage the builders). When that failed Sanballat and his cronies decided that the next thing was to use unofficial armed bands to disrupt the work. The effect of their double efforts was that many men of Judah did become discouraged (4.10). But Nehemiah would not be discouraged and simply arranged that the builders must double up as builders and guards. He also arranged that they would all sleep in Jerusalem so as to protect it at nights. And they slept with their clothes on and their arms ready to hand. The lessons are clear. Ridicule must be combated with prayer. Active interference must be combated by self-sacrifice, wisdom and courage and a readiness for self-defence. This is a very abbreviated account which you will clearly need to fill out, especially with regard to the lessons to be learned from it. . |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Nehemiah | Author | ||
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Makarios | ||
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i4kivu2 | ||
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chygal | ||
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together | ||
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tateanjo | ||
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tateanjo | ||
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PhyllisJ | ||
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johnlau90 | ||
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hfwitt | ||
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shepherd_meye | ||
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rabban |