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Nehemiah 1-5
New American Standard Bible

Nehemiah’s Grief for the Exiles

1 The words of (A)Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in (B)the month Chislev, (C)in the twentieth year, while I was in (D)Susa the [a]capitol, 2 that (E)Hanani, one of my brothers, [b]and some men from Judah came; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped [c]and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the (F)province who survived the captivity are in great distress and (G)disgrace, and (H)the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and (I)its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 Now when I heard these words, (J)I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before (K)the God of heaven. 5 I said, “Please, Lord God of heaven, (L)the great and awesome God, (M)who keeps the covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments: 6 (N)let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, (O)confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; (P)I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 (Q)We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances (R)which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, please, the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘(S)If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 (T)but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I (U)will gather them from there and bring them (V)to the place where I have chosen to have My name dwell.’ 10 (W)They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11 Please, Lord, (X)may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [d]revere Your name, and please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man.”

Now I was the (Y)cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah’s Prayer Answered

2 And it came about in the month Nisan, (Z)in the twentieth year of King (AA)Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and (AB)I picked up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? (AC)This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 And I said to the king, “(AD)May the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad (AE)when the city, the [e]site of my fathers’ tombs, is desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “[f]What would you request?” (AF)So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, I request that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6 Then the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and (AG)I gave him a definite time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me (AH)for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s (AI)forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of (AJ)the citadel which is by the [g]temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house to which I will go.” And the king granted them to me because (AK)the good hand of my God was on me.

9 Then I came to (AL)the governors of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. Now (AM)the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 And when (AN)Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite [h]official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 So I (AO)came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12 And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my [i]mind to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13 So I went out at night by (AP)the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Spring and on to the Dung Gate, and I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem (AQ)which were broken down and its (AR)gates which had been consumed by fire. 14 Then I passed on to (AS)the Fountain Gate and (AT)the King’s Pool, but there was no place for [j]my mount to pass. 15 So I was going up at night by the (AU)ravine and inspecting the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16 However, the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that (AV)Jerusalem is desolate and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let’s arise and build.” (AW)So they put their hands to the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite [k]official, and (AX)Geshem the Arab heard about it, (AY)they mocked us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? (AZ)Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 So I answered them and said to them, “(BA)The God of heaven will make us successful; therefore we His servants will arise and build, (BB)but you have no part, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Builders of the Walls

3 Then (BC)Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built (BD)the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and (BE)installed its doors. They consecrated [l]the wall to (BF)the Tower of the Hundred and (BG)the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him (BH)the men of Jericho built, and next to [m]them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built (BI)the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and installed its doors with its bolts and bars. 4 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to [n]him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to [o]him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs. 5 Moreover, next to [p]him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not [q]support the work of their masters.

6 Now Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired (BJ)the Ancient Gate; they laid its beams and installed its doors with its bolts and its bars. 7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, [r]also made repairs for the official seat of the (BK)governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River. 8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the (BL)goldsmiths made repairs. And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as (BM)the Broad Wall. 9 And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, (BN)the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and (BO)the Tower of Furnaces. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, (BP)the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters.

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired (BQ)the Valley Gate. They built it and installed its doors with its bolts and its bars, and a [s]thousand cubits of the wall to the Dung Gate.

14 And Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of (BR)Beth-haccherem repaired the (BS)Dung Gate. He built it and installed its doors with its bolts and its bars.

15 Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, (BT)repaired the Fountain Gate. He built it, made a roof for it, and installed its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at (BU)the king’s garden as far as (BV)the steps that descend from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, (BW)official of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David, and as far as (BX)the [t]artificial pool and the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, the official of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad, official of the other half of the district of Keilah. 19 And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, (BY)the official of Mizpah, repaired [u]another section in front of the ascent of the armory (BZ)at the Angle. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of (CA)Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the doorway of Eliashib’s house even as far as the end of [v]his house. 22 And after him the priests, (CB)the men of the [w]vicinity, carried out repairs. 23 After [x]them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house. After [y]them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, carried out repairs beside his house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah as far as (CC)the Angle and as far as the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king, which is by (CD)the courtyard of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs. 26 Now (CE)the temple servants living in (CF)Ophel made repairs as far as the front of (CG)the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 After [z]them (CH)the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.

28 Above (CI)the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house. 29 After [aa]them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters. 31 After him Malchijah, [ab]one of (CJ)the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the [ac]Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner. 32 And between the upper room of the corner and (CK)the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants carried out repairs.

Work Is Ridiculed

4 [ad]Now it came about that when (CL)Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry, and he mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke in the presence of his brothers and (CM)the [ae]wealthy people of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore the temple for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Can they revive the stones from the (CN)heaps of rubble, even the burned ones?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him, and he said, “Even what they are building—(CO)if a fox were to [af]jump on it, it would break their stone wall down!”

4 (CP)Hear, O our God, how we are an object of contempt! (CQ)Return their taunting on their own heads, and turn them into plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not [ag](CR)forgive their guilt and do not let their sin be wiped out before You, for they have [ah]demoralized the builders.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a [ai]mind to work.

7 [aj]Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the [ak]repair of the walls of Jerusalem went [al]on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. 8 So all of them (CS)conspired together to come to fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.

Discouragement Overcome

9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we (CT)set up a guard against them day and night.

10 And so [am]in Judah it was said:

“The strength of the burden bearers is failing,
Yet there is much rubble;
And we ourselves are unable
To rebuild the wall.”

11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “[an]They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,” 13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I (CU)stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “(CV)Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and (CW)fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

15 Now when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that (CX)God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. 16 And from that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them kept hold of the spears, the shields, the bows, and the coats of mail; and the captains were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens carried with one hand doing the work, and the other keeping hold of a weapon. 18 As for the builders, each wore his sword strapped to his waist as he built, while [ao]the trumpeter stood near me. 19 And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. 20 At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, assemble to us there. (CY)Our God will fight for us.”

21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from [ap]dawn until the stars [aq]appeared. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Each man with his servant shall spend the night within Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.” 23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me—none of us [ar]removed our clothes; each took his weapon even to the water.

Charging Interest Abolished

5 Now (CZ)there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their (DA)Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let’s (DB)get grain so that we may eat and live.” 3 And there were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so that we might get grain because of the famine.” 4 There also were those who said, “We have borrowed money (DC)for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 And now (DD)our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, (DE)we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and [as]we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6 Then I was very (DF)angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 So I thought it over and contended with the nobles and the leading people, and said to them, “(DG)You are lending at interest, each to his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, “We, according to our ability, (DH)have [at]redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 So I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of (DI)the taunting of the nations, our enemies? 10 And likewise I, my brothers, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let’s [au]do without this interest. 11 Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, as well as the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are charging as interest from them.” 12 Then they said, “We (DJ)will give it back and (DK)will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and made them (DL)take an oath to act in accordance with this [av]promise. 13 I (DM)also shook out the [aw]front of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every person from his house and from his possessions who does not keep this [ax]promise; just so may he be shaken out and emptied.” And (DN)all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. Then the people acted in accordance with this [ay]promise.

Nehemiah’s Example

14 Furthermore, since the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from (DO)the twentieth year to the (DP)thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance. 15 But the previous governors who were before me [az]laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so (DQ)because of my fear of God. 16 I also [ba]applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, (DR)there were at my table 150 Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now (DS)that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep; also birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all sorts of wine were provided in abundance. Yet for all this (DT)I did not request the governor’s food allowance, because the forced labor was heavy on this people. 19 (DU)Remember me, my God, for good, in return for all that I have done for this people.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 1:1 Or acropolis
  2. Nehemiah 1:2 Lit he and men
  3. Nehemiah 1:2 Lit who survived
  4. Nehemiah 1:11 Or fear
  5. Nehemiah 2:3 Lit house
  6. Nehemiah 2:4 Lit For what is this you
  7. Nehemiah 2:8 Lit house
  8. Nehemiah 2:10 Lit servant
  9. Nehemiah 2:12 Lit heart
  10. Nehemiah 2:14 Lit the animal under me
  11. Nehemiah 2:19 Lit servant
  12. Nehemiah 3:1 Lit it
  13. Nehemiah 3:2 Lit him
  14. Nehemiah 3:4 Lit them
  15. Nehemiah 3:4 Lit them
  16. Nehemiah 3:5 Lit them
  17. Nehemiah 3:5 Lit bring their neck to
  18. Nehemiah 3:7 Or which was under the jurisdiction of the governor of the province beyond the River, also made repairs
  19. Nehemiah 3:13 About 1,500 ft. or 457 m
  20. Nehemiah 3:16 Lit constructed
  21. Nehemiah 3:19 Lit a second measure, and so in vv 20, 21, 24, 30
  22. Nehemiah 3:21 Lit Eliashib’s
  23. Nehemiah 3:22 I.e., the lower Jordan Valley
  24. Nehemiah 3:23 Lit him
  25. Nehemiah 3:23 Lit him
  26. Nehemiah 3:27 Lit him
  27. Nehemiah 3:29 Lit him
  28. Nehemiah 3:31 Lit son of
  29. Nehemiah 3:31 Or Numbering
  30. Nehemiah 4:1 Ch 3:33 in Heb
  31. Nehemiah 4:2 Or army
  32. Nehemiah 4:3 Lit go up
  33. Nehemiah 4:5 Lit cover
  34. Nehemiah 4:5 Lit offended against
  35. Nehemiah 4:6 Lit heart
  36. Nehemiah 4:7 Ch 4:1 in Heb
  37. Nehemiah 4:7 Lit healing
  38. Nehemiah 4:7 Lit up
  39. Nehemiah 4:10 Lit Judah said
  40. Nehemiah 4:12 As in LXX; MT omits they...up
  41. Nehemiah 4:18 Lit he who sounded the trumpet
  42. Nehemiah 4:21 Lit rising of the dawn
  43. Nehemiah 4:21 Lit came out
  44. Nehemiah 4:23 I.e., for washing or resting
  45. Nehemiah 5:5 Lit there is no power in our hands
  46. Nehemiah 5:8 Lit purchased
  47. Nehemiah 5:10 Lit abandon
  48. Nehemiah 5:12 Lit word
  49. Nehemiah 5:13 Lit fold
  50. Nehemiah 5:13 Lit word
  51. Nehemiah 5:13 Lit word
  52. Nehemiah 5:15 Lit made heavy
  53. Nehemiah 5:16 Or held fast
Close NLT

Nehemiah 1-5
New Living Translation

1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah.

Nehemiah’s Concern for Jerusalem

In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign,[a] I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said,

“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth,[b] I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’

10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. 11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me.[c] Put it into his heart to be kind to me.”

In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem

2 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan,[d] during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.

7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River,[e] instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. 8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen[f] to protect me. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Wall

11 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. 13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well,[g] and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley[h] instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.

16 The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. 17 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

19 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked.

20 I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem

3 Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel. 2 People from the town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of Imri.

3 The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana. 5 Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors.

6 The Old City Gate[i] was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. 7 Next to them were Melatiah from Gibeon, Jadon from Meronoth, people from Gibeon, and people from Mizpah, the headquarters of the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River.[j] 8 Next was Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a goldsmith by trade, who also worked on the wall. Beyond him was Hananiah, a manufacturer of perfumes. They left out a section of Jerusalem as they built the Broad Wall.[k]

9 Rephaiah son of Hur, the leader of half the district of Jerusalem, was next to them on the wall. 10 Next Jedaiah son of Harumaph repaired the wall across from his own house, and next to him was Hattush son of Hashabneiah. 11 Then came Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab, who repaired another section of the wall and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh and his daughters repaired the next section. He was the leader of the other half of the district of Jerusalem.

13 The Valley Gate was repaired by the people from Zanoah, led by Hanun. They set up its doors and installed its bolts and bars. They also repaired the 1,500 feet[l] of wall to the Dung Gate.

14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, the leader of the Beth-hakkerem district. He rebuilt it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.

15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum[m] son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam[n] near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David. 16 Next to him was Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the leader of half the district of Beth-zur. He rebuilt the wall from a place across from the tombs of David’s family as far as the water reservoir and the House of the Warriors.

17 Next to him, repairs were made by a group of Levites working under the supervision of Rehum son of Bani. Then came Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah, who supervised the building of the wall on behalf of his own district. 18 Next down the line were his countrymen led by Binnui[o] son of Henadad, the leader of the other half of the district of Keilah.

19 Next to them, Ezer son of Jeshua, the leader of Mizpah, repaired another section of wall across from the ascent to the armory near the angle in the wall. 20 Next to him was Baruch son of Zabbai, who zealously repaired an additional section from the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz rebuilt another section of the wall extending from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of the house.

22 The next repairs were made by the priests from the surrounding region. 23 After them, Benjamin and Hasshub repaired the section across from their house, and Azariah son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah repaired the section across from his house. 24 Next was Binnui son of Henadad, who rebuilt another section of the wall from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner. 25 Palal son of Uzai carried on the work from a point opposite the angle and the tower that projects up from the king’s upper house beside the court of the guard. Next to him were Pedaiah son of Parosh, 26 with the Temple servants living on the hill of Ophel, who repaired the wall as far as a point across from the Water Gate to the east and the projecting tower. 27 Then came the people of Tekoa, who repaired another section across from the great projecting tower and over to the wall of Ophel.

28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests repaired the wall. Each one repaired the section immediately across from his own house. 29 Next Zadok son of Immer also rebuilt the wall across from his own house, and beyond him was Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the gatekeeper of the East Gate. 30 Next Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section, while Meshullam son of Berekiah rebuilt the wall across from where he lived. 31 Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the wall as far as the housing for the Temple servants and merchants, across from the Inspection Gate. Then he continued as far as the upper room at the corner. 32 The other goldsmiths and merchants repaired the wall from that corner to the Sheep Gate.

Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding

4 [p]Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?[q] Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[r] the builders.”

6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.

7 [s]But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”

11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”

12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”[t] 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.

14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.

19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.[u]

Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed

5 About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. 2 They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”

3 Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”

4 And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. 5 We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.”

6 When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. 7 After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.

8 At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense.

9 Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations? 10 I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. 11 You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”

12 They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.

13 I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!”

The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

14 For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes[v]—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. 15 The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces[w] of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.

16 I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall. 17 I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! 18 The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.

19 Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Hebrew In the month of Kislev of the twentieth year. A number of dates in the book of Nehemiah can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of November and December 446 B.c. The twentieth year probably refers to the reign of King Artaxerxes I; compare 2:1; 5:14.
  2. 1:9 Hebrew of the heavens.
  3. 1:11 Hebrew today in the sight of this man.
  4. 2:1 Hebrew In the month of Nisan. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of April and May 445 B.c.
  5. 2:7 Hebrew the province beyond the river; also in 2:9.
  6. 2:9 Or charioteers.
  7. 2:13 Or Serpent’s Well.
  8. 2:15 Hebrew the valley.
  9. 3:6 Or The Mishneh Gate, or The Jeshanah Gate.
  10. 3:7 Hebrew the province beyond the river.
  11. 3:8 Or They fortified Jerusalem up to the Broad Wall.
  12. 3:13 Hebrew 1,000 cubits [460 meters].
  13. 3:15a As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads Shallun.
  14. 3:15b Hebrew pool of Shelah, another name for the pool of Siloam.
  15. 3:18 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts, some Greek manuscripts, and Syriac version (see also 3:24; 10:9); most Hebrew manuscripts read Bavvai.
  16. 4:1 Verses 4:1-6 are numbered 3:33-38 in Hebrew text.
  17. 4:2 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  18. 4:5 Or for they have thrown insults in the face of.
  19. 4:7 Verses 4:7-23 are numbered 4:1-17 in Hebrew text.
  20. 4:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  21. 4:23 Or Each carried his weapon in his right hand. Hebrew reads Each his weapon the water. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  22. 5:14 That is, 445–433 B.c.
  23. 5:15 Hebrew 40 shekels [1 pound or 456 grams].
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