Illustration created for this project.

Nehemiah

The cupbearer to the Persian king who returned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem against fierce opposition.

Role: Governor of Judah

Lived: c. 5th century BC

Born: Susa

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleThe cupbearer to the Persian king who returned to rebuild Jerusalem's walls against fierce opposition.

Nehemiah 2:5; 6:15

↳ Jerusalem

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyThe Elephantine papyri (c. 407 BC) name Sanballat governor of Samaria and Johanan the high priest — figures from exactly Nehemiah's world.

Elephantine (Yeb) Aramaic papyrus TAD A4.7 (Cowley no. 30), petition to Bagavahya/Bigvai dated 407 BC, naming Sanballat governor of Samaria (via his sons Delaiah and Shelemiah) and Johanan the high priest of Jerusalem. Editions: A.E. Cowley, 'Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C.' (Clarendon Press, 1923); Porten & Yardeni, 'Textbook of Aramaic Documents from Ancient Egypt' (TAD).

Where in scripture

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 2:5 Nehemiah 6:15

In their own words — 19 recorded sayings

“And I said to the king, If it is the king's pleasure, and if your servant has your approval, send me to Judah, to the town where the bodies of my fathers are at rest, so that I may take in hand the building of it.” — Nehemiah 2:5

“Further, I said to the king, If it is the king's pleasure, let letters be given to me for the rulers across the river, so that they may let me go through till I come to Judah; And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's park, so that he may give me wood to make boards for the doors of the tower of the house, and for the wall of the town, and for the house which is to be mine. And the king gave me this, for the hand of my God was on me.” — Nehemiah 2:7-8

“Then I said to them, You see what a bad condition we are in; how Jerusalem is a waste, and its doorways burned with fire: come, let us get to work, building up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer be put to shame.” — Nehemiah 2:17

“Then answering them I said, The God of heaven, he will be our help; so we his servants will go on with our building: but you have no part or right or any name in Jerusalem.” — Nehemiah 2:20

“And after looking, I got up and said to the great ones and to the chiefs and to the rest of the people, Have no fear of them: keep in mind the Lord who is great and greatly to be feared, and take up arms for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives and your houses.” — Nehemiah 4:14

“And I said to the great ones and the chiefs and the rest of the people, The work is great and widely spaced and we are far away from one another on the wall: Wherever you may be when the horn is sounded, come here to us; our God will be fighting for us.” — Nehemiah 4:19-20

“And at the same time I said to the people, Let everyone with his servant come inside Jerusalem for the night, so that at night they may keep watch for us, and go on working by day.” — Nehemiah 4:22

“And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest. And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word. And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our…” — Nehemiah 5:7-11

…and 11 more recorded sayings.

Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).