Nehemiah

Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, received news about the poor state of Jerusalem and its people after the exile, prompting him to pray and ask for God's favor to rebuild the city. The king granted Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem, where he secretly inspected the city's walls and gates, then rallied the Jews to rebuild the wall, despite facing ridicule and opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. The Jews worked together to repair the wall, with different groups contributing to specific sections, and Nehemiah encouraged them to remember the Lord and fight for their families and homes. Nehemiah also addressed the issue of usury among the nobles and officials, and he refused to take the food allotted to the governor, instead hosting many guests at his table without burdening the people. After completing the wall in 52 days, Nehemiah appointed officials to oversee Jerusalem and established rules for the city's gates. He then gathered the people to register by families and compiled a list of those who returned from exile. The people celebrated the feast of the seventh month, and the leaders made a binding agreement to follow God's law, vowing not to intermarry with neighboring peoples and to observe the Sabbath. The leaders also agreed to provide for the service of the house of God and to bring tithes to the Levites. The book concludes with Nehemiah ensuring the Levites received their assigned portions, rebuking the people for desecrating the Sabbath, and condemning the practice of marrying foreign women.