27. NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah,
the governor of Jerusalem, rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and introduced
necessary administrative reforms after the Jews returned from their Babylonian
captivity.
THE
MISSION OF NEHEMIAH. Nehemiah, who held an important post in the Persian court,
received sad news about the condition of the Jews who returned to Jerusalem
after their captivity in Babylon. He asked the Persian king for and was granted
permission to return to help the people in Jerusalem. The king wrote letters to
his governors to grant him safe passage and permitted him to use lumber from
the king's forest for construction work in that city.
DECISION
TO BUILD THE CITY WALL. During the night, Nehemiah, along with a few of his
servants, secretly inspected the battered wall of Jerusalem in order to
formulate a plan for the reconstruction work. When he informed the leaders and
the people of his plan, they were very happy. They began the work with great
enthusiasm. However, there were some who opposed this work.
EZRA
READS THE LAW. The people gathered in Jerusalem and Ezra brought out the book
of the law of Moses. He stood on a wooden platform surrounded by men as he read
the law. As he read in Hebrew, a language that most of the people did not
understand, the Levites explained the law in Aramaic, the language the people
understood. The people wept at hearing the law, but Ezra told them not to do so
as that day was a holy day. After hearing the law, the people celebrated with
great joy.
Nehemiah
received permission from the Persian king to return to Jerusalem to help the
people who had returned there after their captivity in Babylon. He rebuilt the
wall of the city. Ezra read the law of Moses to the people in the city.
