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TRUCK THROUGH THE BIBLE
NEHEMIA H CONSOLIDATION.
A. The Building of the Wall. b. The Reading of the Law. C. The Settlement of the Cities,
i- vii. 73b—.x xi.—xiii.
I. Initiation, i., ii. I. The Reading of the Law and |. The People in Jerusalem,
i. Nehemiah’s Grief concern- Feasts of Tabernacles. Xi -xii 26
ing Jeiusalem. i.l vii. 73b viii. i. The princes and ten per cent
ii. Nehemiah s Coining to i. lhe Reading of the Law. compulsorily, and some voluii-
Jerusalem. x ii. * vii. 73b —viii. 12 tarily. xi. 1, 2
ii. The Feast of Tabernacles. ii Lists. xi 3—xii 26
viii. 13-18
11. Process. iii.—v. 11. The Great Prayer of the Levites. 11. The Dedication of the Wall.
i. The Building of the Wall. iii. ix. xii. 27 xiii 3
ii. Opposition and Persistence, iv. i. The Day of Humiliation. 1-4 i. Dating Difficult.
iii. Internal Difficulties. v. ii. The Offering of Praise. 5-29 ii. Ceremony.
iii. Prayer. 30-38 a. Two Processions of Sing-
ers. xii. 27-47
b. The Reading of Law. xiii. 1-2
c. Separation. xiii. 3
111. Completion. vi—vii. 73a 111. The Re-establishment of a Cov- 111. Nehemiah’s final Reformation.
i. Opposition and Victory. vi. enant. x. xiii 4.31
ii. The People. vii. l-73a i. The Sealing. 1-28 i. Twelve Years Later.
ii. The Covenant. 29-39 ii. Correction of Abuses.
iii. His Method (ver. 25.).
HIS is the last book of Old Testament
history. An interval of about twelve
years occurred between * the reforma
tion under Ezra and the coming of Ne
hemiah. The story is that of the con
tinuation of the work commenced by
Zerubbabel in the matter of the re
building of the wall. The book is in-
T
■ —■ tensely interesting, among other rea
sons, because, in large measure, it is autobiograph
ical. Nehemiah tells his own story, and with a
freshness and vigor and transparent honesty which
make it forevermore one full of interest. Beyond
the account of the building of the wall we have
that of a further reformation in which Nehemiah
and Ezra were united as leaders, and finally an
account of the settlement of the cities.
The book may, therefore, be divided broadly
thus: The Building of the Wall (Chs. 1-7: 73a);
The Reading of the Law (Chs. 7: 73b —x) ; The
Settlement of the Cities (Chs. 11-13).
A. THE BUILDING OF THE WALL.
Nehemiah’s position as cup-bearer at the court
of the Gentile king was one of honor, and admitted
him into relationships of some nearness and famil
iarity. In the midst of these circumstances lie had
not forgotten his relationship to the chosen people,
but, on the contrary, was interested in them, and
made enquiry of those who came to the court
concerning Jerusalem. The news they brought was
full of sadness, and grief possessed his heart. He
carried his burden to God in prayer, asking that
He would give him favor in the eyes of the king
he served. There was thus evidently in his heart
a resolution to do more than pity, if tiie door of
opportunity offered.
lhe sadness in his lieart could not 'wholly be
hidden, and when the king detected it, Nehemiah
was filled with fear. Through the fear a splendid
courage manifested itself, and he asked that he
might be allowed to go and help his brethren. The
request was granted, and he departed for Jerusa
lem. Having arrived, he carefully ascertained the
true state of affairs, and then called the elders to
arise and build. Opposition was at once mani
fested on the part of surrounding enemies, and
with strong determination Nehemiah made it per
fectly clear that no co-operation would be permit
ted with those who were derisive of the effort.
The account of the method of arrangement for
the building of the wall shows how system charac
terized Nehemiah’s procedure. The description
given takes in the whole city’s circumference. The
arrangements made indicated the necessity for
speedy work, and were characterized by a sense
Appearing Ebery Week “During 1907. (Copyright American Serial Eights Applied Tor by The Golden age Publishing Co. All Eights Eeserbed.)
NEHEMIAH.
By G. CAMPBELL MORQAN, Westminster Chapel, London, England.
The Golden Age for May 16, 1907.
of the importance of division of labor, and a fit
ting apportionment thereof in the matter of persons
and neighborhoods.
As the work proceeded the opposition of out
siders turned from derision to anger, but rose no
higher at lhe moment than that of contempt. An
illuminative sentence, “The people had a mind
to work,’’ shows how completely Nehemiah had
captured and inspired them, and we are not sur
prised when we read that the wall was half fin
ished. At this point opposition became more se
vere. and a positive attempt was made by conspiracy
to hinder the progress of the work. In Nehemiah’s
method there was neither foolish independence of
God nor foolhardy neglect of human responsibility.
“We made our prayer and set a watch.”
A new difficulty arose among the people them
selves. file rich had exacted usury from their
poorer brethren to such an extent as to oppress
and impoverish them. Nehemiah again acted with
promptitude. There is a fine touch in his declara
tion, “I consulted with myself, and contended with
the nobles.” Setting an example of self-denial,
in that he took no usury, nor even the things
which were his light as the appointed governor
of the people, he produced immediate results in that
all the nobles did the same. Thus the people were
relieved and went forward with their work with
new enthusiasm.
Opposition now moved on to a new plane. Hav
ing begun in contempt and proceeded through con
spiracy, it now adopted a method of subtlety. Af
fecting friendship, the enemies of Nehemiah four
times proposed conference with him, which he res
olutely declined. This was followed by an open
letter containing a slander. With singular direct
ness he denied the slander, and carried on his
building.
Finding that he was not to be seduced, they at
tempted to till him with fear. This attempt he
scorned and hastened the workers. Through the
whole period he was harassed by the complicity
of certain nobles with Tobiah.
At last the wall was finished by the setting up
of the doors, and (he placing in order of porters,
singers and Levites. Arrangements were made for
the safety of the city in the presence of surround
ing enemies by carefid provision as to the hour
for opening and closing the city gates, and by an
arrangement of watchers.
B. THE READING OF THE LAW.
In this section of (he book Ezra appears upon
the scene. A most remarkable religious convention
was held. The first day witnessed the assembling
of the people, and was given to the reading of
the law. This was not merely the reading aloud
of passages therefrom, but was reading accompa
nied by exposition undertaken by men specially
appointed to act in conjunction with
a day of conviction resulting in great sadness in
the heart of the people. On the second day it
smaller gathering of the rulers was held, who Citmt 1
in order more perfectly to understand the law of
God. An immediate application was made by the
observance of the feaSif of the tabernacles.
Following the feast, after a brief interval, Came
tiie great day of humiliation. The people separated
themselves entirely from all that were not actually
within the covenant, and gave themselves to confes
sion and humbling before God. In all this they
were led by the Levites, and the great prayer they
offered is given in full. Its first section waS tin
ascription of praise. Its second set forth Jehovah’s
grace in contrast with, the repeated failure of the
people. The last movement was that of definite
seeking for His continued goodness and help.
Following upon the humiliation of the people
they entered into new covenant relationships with
God. This covenant was sealed representatively by
priests, Levites and rulers. To its terms all the
people agreed. They were set forth in general
phrases and in particular application. Generally
the people promised “to walk in God’s law . . . .
to observe and do all the commandments.” Par
ticularly the covenant referred to matters in which
the people had been in danger of failure, those,
namely, of inter-marriage with the heathen, of neg
lect of the Sabbath, of temple maintenance and
arrangement, and of the offering of first-fruits and
tithes.
0. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CITIES.
In this third and fimtl division of the book the
arrangements made for the settlement of the cities
are given. In the first section we have the account
particularly of the settlement of Jerusalem. Per
haps not more than fifty thousand had returned
from captivity.' By no means all of these had
come to Jerusalem. Many of them were scattered
through the surrounding cities. Jerusalem was pe
culiarly difficult of settlement, in that it was the
center of danger and of possible attack. It was,
therefore, arranged that the princes should dwell
in the city, and ten per cent of the people selected
by lot, must take up their abode there. In addi
tion to these there were certain who voluntarily
came forward to dwell in the place of danger.
It would seem as though the dedication of the
wall had been postponed for some considerable
time. The actual time is of no moment. The cere
mony of dedication proceeded in three stages; first,
two processions of singers who chanted the praises
of God; secondly, the reading of the law; and,
finally, the separation of the mixed multitude
from the people of God.
After the building of the Avail Nehemiah had evi
dently gone back to the court of the king. Twelve
years later he returned, and the last deeds re
corded were such as reveal the continued strength
and loyalty of the man. There were four abuses
which confronted him. Eliashib, the priest, had
given place within the very temple of God to To
biah. Nehemiah flung out occupant and furniture,
.and restored the chamber to its proper use. In the
second place, he found that the Levites, instead
of being able to devote their whole time to the
service of the temple, had to earn their living, be
cause the people neglected the bringing in of the
tithe. He corrected this abuse. In the third place,
he found that the Sabbath was violated, and he
restored the divine order. Finally, the people had
again made mixed marriages, and with character
istic roughness and force he ‘dealt with the matter.
