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The third return from exile - Nehemiah (445 BC)
Nehemiah
Nehemiah was an official in the Persian government, as cup-bearer to the king (1:11). This showed that he was the most trusted person by the king, as his job was to ensure that the king was not poisoned. The cup-bearer was the keeper of the king's signet ring, and in charge of the administration of accounts. He had to be of handsome appearance and trained in court etiquette. He had to be able to select wine for the king to drink. He was a companion of the the king, acting as a listening ear. He was the official with the closest access to the king who enjoyed the unreserved confidence of the king, and determined who could come into the presence of the king.
Xenophon in his Cryopaedia wrote this about the cup-bearer, "Now it is a well known fact that the cupbearers, when they proffer the cup, draw off some of it with the ladle, pour it into their left hand and swallow it down, so that if they should put poison in, they may not profit from it." (Cryopaedia 1:3:9).
The Persians had a representative of the Hebrews high in the Persian government. This was a good policy to keep the minorities happy. He had a commission from Artaxerxes (2:1-8), with letter (v8), knowing that the governors in the land would oppose him (v7,10). Nehemiah later became the governor in Jerusalem (445 - 432 BC) (5:14). He would not accept a salary, setting a good example to the people. He also gave a banquet for the poor, at a time when social tensions were rising between rich and poor (5:5).
Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem
The correspondence recorded between Judah and Artaxerxes I (Ezra 4:7-23) are set during the rebuilding of the walls, "They (the Jews) are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. (Ezra 4:12). In response, Artaxerxes commanded that the building should cease (Ezra 4:17-22). When Nehemiah heard about this he took the bold step of asking the king that he should be allowed to go back to Jerusalem and complete the rebuilding of the walls. He first heard the news from Jerusalem in the month of Chislev in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes (around November or December 446 BC). He approached the king a few months later in the month of Nisan (around March or April 445 BC).
Nehemiah was probably back in Jerusalem by August 445 BC. The walls were finished 52 days later on the 25th day of Elul (around 2nd October 445 BC). Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah by Artaxerxes (Neh 5:14). He remained governor for twelve years (20th year to 32nd year of Artaxerxes). Like Ezra he tried to rebuild the moral and spiritual life of the people, but with limited success. As soon has he returned to Persia, the people reverted to foreign business practices and intermarriage with foreigners.
It is not certain for how long Nehemiah was away in Persia. It seems that he was reappointed governor for an unknown length of time between 432 and 425 BC, making this the last recorded historical event in the OT. According to the Elephantine papyrus, by 407 BC there was another governor in Judah named Bigvai.
Who came back to Jerusalem first?
There are differences of opinion over the dates of Ezra and Nehemiah's returns. It is strange that how little Nehemiah is mentioned in the Book of Ezra, and how little Ezra is mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah, when both are prominent leaders, and have the same goal of re-establishing the religious life of Judah.
The traditional view is that Ezra returned during the reign of Artaxerxes I in 458 BC, before Nehemiah. Others suggest that Ezra returned with Nehemiah in 428 BC during his second period of serving as governor, but there is very little evidence for this. Some even date the return of Ezra during the reign of Artaxerxes II, around 398 BC, many years after Nehemiah.
There some valid questions about the traditional view. One is that Ezra 9:9 refers to Jerusalem having a wall, some 13 years before Nehemiah rebuilt the walls. It is possible, however, that some work was done on the walls, but they were destroyed following the edict of Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:21).
Opposition to Nehemiah
Sanballat the Horonite
Sanballat was probably from Upper or Lower Beth Horon, 12 miles (20 km) north-west of Jerusalem. He became the chief political opponent of Nehemiah (2:10,19, 4:1,7, 6:1-2,5,12,14, 13:28). According to the Elephantine Letters he was the governor of Samaria. He brought the army of Samaria to Jerusalem (Neh 4:2). One of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the High Priest Eliashib was the son-in-law of Sanballat was given as an example of a mixed marriage (13:28).
Tobiah the Ammonite
Tobiah had an official position in the Persian empire, probably as governor of Ammon, to the east of Judah. However he had a Jewish name, meaning 'Yahweh is good'. He too was related to the High Priest Eliashib (13:4), so was able to keep his furniture in the temple. His influence was such that, "many in Judah were bound by oath to him" (6:18). Both Sanballat and Tobiah were related in some way to Eliashib the High Priest (13:4,28)
Geshem the Arab
Geshem is found in other documents as the king of Kedar. Kedar is in the desert to the south-east of Jerusalem. A silver bowl found in Tell el-Maskhuta, Egypt in the Brooklyn Museum in New York has an inscription, "Ilwhat Qainu son of Geshem, King of Qedar, brought in offering to Han-Ilat"
Why did they oppose Nehemiah
Nehemiah was a threat to them politically. They would have seen his wall building as a declaration of revolt against Persian rule (2:19-20).
Roles of Nehemiah and Ezra
Nehemiah and Ezra had separate and contrasting roles in the re-established nation of Judah. The focus of Nehemiah was more outward, concentrating on the rebuilding of the city walls, and the political situation. The focus of Ezra was more inward, concentrating on the religious situation and on the law of the LORD. In some ways they mirror the dual roles of Zerubabbel and Joshua the high priest.
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