Nehemiah 2:11-16

Nehemiah wanted to build the city walls as quickly as possible. But there was much to do. He would have to work hard. So he rested for three days after his long journey. God had given him the desire to build Jerusalem again. So Nehemiah wanted to do a good job.

Nehemiah needed to find out the size of the task. But he did not want his enemies to know his plans. So, after three days, he went out at night. He took only a few people with him. Perhaps they were men who had come from Shushan with him. Or maybe they were men who knew Jerusalem well. Nehemiah did not tell anyone else what he was doing.

Nehemiah went all round the city. He saw that the city was a *ruin. He saw that fire had burned the gates. At one place there was so much rubbish that there was no room for his horse to pass. Now he knew that the task, to build the city again, was a big task.

Nehemiah saw that the whole city was in a bad state. And the people’s relationship with God was also in a bad state:

• The most important building in Jerusalem was the *temple. The *Jews had rebuilt the *temple about 70 years before Nehemiah arrived. The first *temple, which Solomon built, was a splendid building. But this later *temple was much poorer.

• Some priests were living in the area. But they were neglecting their special work for God. The people did not know God’s law. And the people were doing many things that the Bible told them not to do.

• There were not many other buildings in the city. Most *Jews who returned to *Judah were living in the villages. Jerusalem was a dangerous place to live. The *Jews had many enemies and there was no security in the city. It had no defences.

• Many *Jews had tried to make agreements with their enemies. Some *Jews had even allowed their children to marry people from other nations. The people from these nations were evil people, and they served false gods. But God wanted the *Jews to be his special people. He had chosen them, and he wanted them to remain separate from the other nations.

Nehemiah saw that the city needed strong walls. And this was the most important task. The walls would make the city a safe place to live. When the walls were complete, people would be able to move into the city. There, the *Jews could live in a place that was separate from the other nations. The priests could start their special work for God in the *temple again. And the people would learn God’s law.

But, without walls, the *Jews would become even weaker. Their enemies would become stronger. The priests would be unable to work for God. And nobody would maintain the *temple.

Jerusalem had been a very great city. Nehemiah realised that he could not rebuild the whole city. Instead, he selected an area to surround with walls. It was a smaller area than the city used to be. But it was the most important part of the city. It included the *temple and the most ancient parts of the city. The area included enough land for everyone who would live there. There were fountains and everything else that people needed. And soon there would be an important market in the city.

v17 Then I said to all the *Jews, ‘You know that we have much difficulty. Jerusalem is a *ruin and fire has burned its gates. Let us build the wall of Jerusalem. Then we will not still be ashamed.’ v18 Then I told them how God had looked after me. Also I told them what the king had said to me. And they replied, ‘Let us start to build!’ So they prepared themselves to do this good work.

v19 But Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem heard about our plan. Sanballat was from Horon. Tobiah was an officer from Ammon. Geshem was an *Arab. They laughed at us and they insulted us. They said, ‘You should not be doing such a thing. You are plotting against the king.’

v20 Then I replied, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We are his servants and we will begin to build. But you are not citizens of Jerusalem. You have no legal authority here. You have no right to any part of Jerusalem.’