At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Nehemiah for memoir portions; final composition possibly Ezra |
| Date | ~430 BC |
| Audience | Post-exilic Jewish community |
| Genre | Historical narrative and memoir |
| Purpose | Rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and community covenant renewal |
| Chapters | 13 |
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Wall rebuilding | 1-7 | Nehemiah's mission; opposition; wall completed |
| Covenant renewal | 8-10 | Ezra reads Law; people commit |
| Settlement and reform | 11-13 | Population redistribution; ongoing reforms |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Prayer and action | Nehemiah models both |
| Leadership | Vision and perseverance and opposition |
| Word and covenant | Law publicly read and applied |
| Wall as protection | Physical and spiritual security |
| Community holiness | Sabbath, marriage, tithes |
Key passages
- Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah's prayer
- Nehemiah 2, strategic planning and cup-bearer-to-governor
- Nehemiah 4, opposition and response (work with one hand, weapon in other)
- Nehemiah 8, Word read and understood
- Nehemiah 9, covenant prayer and history review
- Nehemiah 13, final reforms