Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields ...  Read More

Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the p...  Read More

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the people is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over "Wherever you turn, they will attack us" Therefore I stat...  Read More

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But...  Read More

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble -- burned as they are?...  Read More

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of the Hananel.The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its bea...  Read More

Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him -- His name is the LORD.A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling.God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.  (Psalm 68:4-6). My heart is gripped by the very poignant things the Psalmist rev...  Read More

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is it you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"I answered them by saying, "The Go...  Read More

So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a f...  Read More

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?" . . . The king said to me, "What is it you want?"Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your...  Read More

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven. Then I said:"LORD, the God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, t...  Read More

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The...  Read More