College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Nehemiah 2 - Introduction
Chapter Two
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
1.
What was the occasion on which Nehemiah brought his request before the king?
2.
How was the king informed that Nehemiah wanted to make a request?
3.
What was included in the request that Nehemiah made?
4.
Why do you suppose Nehemiah made his tour of inspection by night?
OUTLINE
B.
Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem
1.
Nehemiah is given permission by Artaxerxes to make the trip (Nehemiah 2:1-10).
2.
On his arrival, he secretly inspects the city's walls (Nehemiah 2:11-20).
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.
Who was the king of Persia?
2.
What was the first thing Nehemiah did when he was asked to make his request?
3.
Who heard of Nehemiah's trip, and what was the reaction?
4.
What proposal arose out of Nehemiah's tour of inspection?
WORD STUDIES
FOREST (Nehemiah 2:8, Pardes): PARADISE: a park or pleasure-ground, a place planted with trees, pleasure-garden, enclosed hunting-ground, a park with wild animals, around the residence of the Persian monarchs; region of surpassing beauty; park around the house. The word is used only here and in Song of Solomon 4:13 and Ecclesiastes 2:5.
REPROACH (Nehemiah 2:17: noun, Cherpah; verb, Charaph): has the basic idea of pulling, plucking, picking or gathering (fruit). We pick at people, and pull them apart. Our descriptive words, carp and harp (criticize, reproach, upbraid), may be derived from it. Since the picking of fruit also implies the approach of winter, it speaks of a frigid treatment, a scornful attitude.