Nehemiah

Nehemiah, a servant of the king, learned of the Jews' troubles in Jerusalem and the broken city walls, prompting him to pray and fast, asking God for mercy and success. He requested permission from King Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls, which was granted, and he traveled to Jerusalem to begin the project. Despite ridicule and opposition from enemies, the Jews worked together to repair the gates and walls, with various groups contributing to specific sections. Nehemiah confronted nobles and officials for exacting interest from the people and forced them to return properties and stop the practice. He also declined meeting with enemies and denied allegations of rebellion, completing the wall in 52 days. Nehemiah then established rules for guarding the city gates, enrolled the people by genealogy, and gathered them to read the Book of the Law, leading to a celebration and a renewed commitment to follow God's law. The people made a covenant to obey God's law, and the leaders signed a binding agreement to follow its commandments. The book concludes with the organization of the temple service, the dedication of the wall, and Nehemiah's efforts to restore the temple and enforce the Sabbath and purity laws.