Nehemiah was the son of Hachaliah (Neh 1:1), probably of the tribe of Judah and his ancestral family may have lived in Jerusalem (Neh 2:3). He was not yet born when his parents were captured and removed from Jerusalem to Persia during the dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar. In his youth He was appointed to the important office of royal cup-bearer at the palace of Shushan. This would have given him regular access to the Persian king and set the stage for his request before the king and queen2. This king may, or may not, be the same person who is spoken of in the account of Esther as king Ahasuerus [in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king (not a name but a title, Esth 1:1), probably Darius Hystaspis].3 The king knew of the work ethic, character and conduct of many Jews in the king's official service. This, when added to his personal knowledge of Nehemiah, would have given confidence to the king in sending Nehemiah to be the governor over this people. The king knows that the personal integrity and faithfulness of Nehemiah, who has served in his presence, will be used to serve him in this distant location.
"Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Neh 2:7-8)
There is a typological significance in Jerusalem, the walls of the city, the Temple in the Old Testament and in the book of Nehemiah. These are revealed in the spiritual parallels in the heavenly realities of the New Covenant. When we speak of Nehemiah as a type of Christ we are saying that he behaved in a way that corresponds to Jesus' character or actions in the New Testament, that an object or event in the Old Testament can be viewed as representative of some quality of Jesus, action by Him or circumstance He faced. So we can understand that Nehemiah coming to rebuild the walls of the old Jerusalem illustrates in a manner Christ Jesus came to establish and build the walls of His church. The broken walls of Jerusalem was the result of lawlessness from disobedience to the Mosaic Law and of forsaking the worship of the true God. As wicked sinners, we need the law of God written upon the tables of our hearts to take us from our rebellion and transform us. The Old Testament Jews needed religious revival to fulfill their duties under the Mosaic Law Covenant. The New Testament believers need to be filled and led by God's spirit: changed in their character, conduct, manner of life, and prepared for the dissemination and defense of the truth of God's word.
When Nehemiah asked permission of the great king of Persia to help rebuild the people and walls of Jerusalem it corresponded to Jesus coming from heaven to become the only one who could redeem mankind from sin's penalty and restore them to relationship with God. Nehemiah sought to rescue God's covenant people, whom God had redeemed by great power and by a strong hand out of Egypt and were now under a Gentile king and spiritual oppression. So Nehemiah, portraying the Comforting Intercessor, stands before this king and asks the king for permission to assist them. As a type of Christ the Mediator, His heart yearns for this group, of which he is also very much a part despite his separated geographical location.
Nehemiah's ride upon a horse through the various gates as he examined the walls points to things Christ Jesus has done and will yet do. Nehemiah's compassion for his kindred and countrymen in their spiritual decline corresponds to Christ Jesus in His compassion for the multitudes and eagerness to go from village to village to teach and guide them. In the course of his important work Nehemiah fought against temptations from material and spiritual sources to compromise. Jesus was likewise tempted with and prevailed over physical and spiritual opposition in His ministry to bring the true worship of God into the hearts of people. Nehemiah's excellent leadership previews Christ Jesus as the Good Shepherd (Eze 34; John 10) who lived a perfect life and modelled service to God and man. Nehemiah's reviving of the worship of God points toward the Holy Spirit transforming those who would accept and believe in Christ Jesus.
So we look at the circumstances Nehemiah faced, the attitudes he held and the actions Nehemiah took to fulfill the goals of rebuilding the protection of God's people and reestablishing genuine worship of God again. We find in the book of Nehemiah great pointers to Christ Jesus, the promised Messiah, the savior of the world.
See the walls of old Jerusalem and its gates: Image
Nehemiah previews some of the character, ministry, and temptations of Christ Jesus.
45 Comparisons Between Nehemiah and Christ Jesus
compiled by Brian Kuehmichel©
Item:
Nehemiah
Christ
Nehemiah's status — portrays Jesus.
dwelled by a great king
"And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence." (Neh 2:1)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3); "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42); "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." (John 14:11)
personally knows the king
of Persia: "The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, ... For I was the king's cupbearer." (Neh 1:1, 11); "And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence." (Neh 2:1); "And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha ..." (Neh 8:9)
of heaven: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1); "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." (Heb 10:7); "Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." (John 8:19); "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." (John 14:7); "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)
recognized sins of Israel
"And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses." (Neh 1:5-7)
"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17); "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32); "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45); "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Tim 2:5-6); "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Heb 9:15)
made personal request to go to Jerusalem
"And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. ... And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Neh 2:5-9)
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." (Isa 6:8); "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42); "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." (John 16:28)
sent by great king
"And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence." (Neh 2:1)
"For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34); "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38); "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42); "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45)
received help from king's servants / governors
"And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me." (Neh 2:8-9)
"Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." (Matt 4:11); "And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him." (Mark 1:13); "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Luke 22:41-46); "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matt 26:52-54)
sent to rebuild Jerusalem's walls of protection
"And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. ... And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Neh 2:5-9)
builds spiritual walls: Christian character qualities, morals, manner of life to reflect God's design for man. "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37); "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:27-28); "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28); "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." (Luke 18:22); "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45)
unbelievers provide materials for the meek to inherit
"And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord." (1Sam 30:26); " ... Them also king David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. ... " (2 Sam 8:1-14; 1 Chr 18:1-13); "And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Neh 2:8)
"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (Psa 37:11); "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matt 5:5); "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house." (Matt 12:29); "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." (Mark 3:27); "But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." (Luke 11:22); "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Col 2:15)
Nehemiah's heart — portrays Jesus.
wept, mourned over result of sin
"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven," (Neh 1:4)
"And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" (John 11:34-36); "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." (Luke 19:41)
fasted
"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven." (Neh 1:4)
"And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred." (Matt 4:2)
prayed often
"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: ... O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer." (Neh 1:4-5, 11); "Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven." (Neh 2:4); "Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise. ... Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people." (Neh 5:13, 19); "For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. ... My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear." (Neh 6:9, 14); "Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. ... And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy." (Neh 13:14, 22); "Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. ... And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good." (Neh 13:29, 31)
[See: The Lord Jesus Prays for 34 Passages Where Jesus Prays]
recites God's words
"Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there." (Neh 1:8-9)
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ... Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. ... Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matt 4:4, 7, 10; Luke 4:4, 8); "And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matt 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46); "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27); "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Mark 7:6); "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45)
left exalted position
"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, ... For I was the king's cupbearer." (Neh 1:1, 11); "Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me." (Neh 2:9)
"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1:10); "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. ... Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." (John 14:7-11)
protected his people
[See: had enemies who actively opposed him; falsely accused] " But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem." (Neh 2:19-20)
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ... ..." (John 10:7-29)
full of compassion, dealt with weaknesses of the people
"Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise." (Neh 5:7-12); "Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. ... yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people." (Neh 5:14-19) [See: protected his people]
"And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him." (Mark 1:29-34); "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." (Matt 9:36); "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." (Matt 14:14); "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way." (Matt 15:32; Mark 8:2); " And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (Matt 20:31-34); "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." (Mark 1:41); (Rom 7:15-20; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:19-22; Heb 3:6; etc.)
turned to God in adversity
"Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them." (Neh 4:9); "For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. ... My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear." (Neh 6:9, 14)
"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Luke 22:41-46)
Nehemiah's journeys — portray Jesus.
came to Jerusalem - first period
"So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days." (Neh 2:11); "But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king." (Neh 13:6)
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." (Isa 6:8); "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. ... But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 5:30, 36-38 [vs36-44]); "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village." (Luke 9:56); "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10); "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Php 2:5-8)
returned to the king who sent him
"But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God." (Neh 13:6-7)
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2); "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." (John 16:7-10); "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17); "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things." (Eph 4:10); "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9); "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Pet 3:22)
came to Jerusalem - second period
"... and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense." (Neh 13:6-9)
"A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south." (Zech 14:1-4); "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech 12:10); "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matt 24:30); "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." (2 Thes 1:7-9); "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. ... And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." (John 5:22, 27); "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2 Thes 1:7-10)
Nehemiah's character — portrays Jesus.
came to help the people
"When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel." (Neh 2:10); "And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah." (Neh 4:16); "Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. ..." (Neh 5:14-19)
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45); "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47); "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47); "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45); "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:6-8)
decreased burden on people
"Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise." (Neh 5:7-12); "Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. ... yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. ..." (Neh 5:14-19)
"And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them." (Matt 4:24); (Matt 12:15; 14:14; 15:30; 19:2; 21:14) "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." (Mark 6:13); "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." (Luke 4:40); (Luke 6:17-19; 8:36; 9:11; 13:14; 17:15); When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. ... And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils." (Matt 8:16, 33); "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matt 10:1); "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30); "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10); "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46); "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10:38); (Taught people: Matt 5:2; 7:29; 13:54; Mark 1:22; 2:13; 4:2; 10:1; Luke 4:31; John 8:2)
kept in full obedience to God's law
"Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise." (Neh 5:7-12); "Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. ... yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people." (Neh 5:14-19); "Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear." (Neh 6:13-14); "And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; ... ... " (Neh 10:28-39)
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt 3:17); "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." (John 9:31); "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10); "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matt 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35); "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42); "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." (Matt 26:42); "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Heb 4:15); "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." (Heb 7:26); "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (1 Pet 1:18-20) [Matt 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; 2 Pet 1:17]
sought spiritual renewal of his people
"When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel." Neh 2:10); "And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. ... Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise." (Neh 5:1, 13)
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:5); "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17); "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24); "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matt 9:13; Luke 5:32); "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
teaches Godly manner of worship and life, initiated a renewal of the covenant
[See: decreased burden on people; kept in full obedience to God's law] "Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them." (Neh 9:1); "And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; ... ... " (Neh 10:28-39); "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. ... ... Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off." (Neh 12:27-43); "On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude." (Neh 13:1-3); (Psa 9:11 48:11-14; 102:21; 122:1-2; 147:12)
"And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Mark 1:44; Matt 8:4; Luke 5:14); "Come unto me, take up cross, follow me, etc; "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30); "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt 7:21); "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matt 11:27-29); "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matt 12:50); "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." (Matt 15:44); "For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death." (Mark 7:10); "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matt 19:17-19; Mark 10:18-19); "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." (John 13:23); "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (John 15:9)
[Note: The actions of Christian belief require and reflect a change in heart and character. These include: believe Jesus is the Savior sent of God (John 5:24; Matt 10:32), repent of and make restitution for sins (Luke 15:7; 19:8; Acts 20:21), resist those kinds of thoughts and behaviors (Matt 5:28; 2 Tim 2:22; Heb 12:4), accept the Holy Spirit to transform us from our former self into Christ's likeness (Matt 7:21-27; Rom 8:15; 1 Cor 2:12), give testimony of God changing us (Luke 8:39; Acts 15:4), seek baptism (if possible, Acts 2:38; 10:47-48; 19:5), speak honestly and live righteously (1 Thes 2:1-4; Eph 4:15, 25), love others and serve them by showing compassion and mercy (John 13:35; Rom 12:10; 13:8; James 4:17), promote God's word (Col 3:16), teach others about the need for salvation through Christ's sacrifice on our behalf (Acts 10:42; 20:21), endure hardship (2 Tim 2:3; Heb 12:3; 1 Pet 2:9), and continue faithful unto death (Matt 10:22; Rev 2:10).]
Nehemiah's examination of Jerusalem — portrays Jesus.
examined Jerusalem's weaknesses
"So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work." (Neh 2:11-16)
"And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (John 2:13-16); "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them." (Matt 21:12-14); "And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve." (Mark 11:11); "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine." (Mark 11:15-18); "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him." (Luke 19:41-48)
proceeded thru specific locations
[Note: a horse is symbolic of war, and not a donkey of peace] "And I went out by night by the 1) gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to 2) the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then I went on to 3) the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the 4) gate of the valley, and so returned." (Neh 2:13-15)
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psa 23:4); "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns." (Psa 22:16-21)
Note the order of these gates: 1st - there is humility (the valley gate), 2nd - cleansing or purity (the dung gate), 3rd - the filling of the Spirit (the fountain gate), 4th, deep humility when dying upon the cross (return thru the valley gate).
1) Points to the humility of the Lord descending from heaven to become man. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Php 2:5-8)
2) Points to required purity of heart. "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." (Heb 7:26); "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1Pet 1:15-16); (2 Cor 7:1; Isa 1:16-17; 1 John 1:9)
3) Illustrates the ministry of the Holy Spirit; "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt 3:16-17); "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and he that believeth on me, let him drink. As the scripture hath said: Out of him shall flow rivers of living water."" (John 7:37-39); "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph 5:18); "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
4) Reminds us of the humility of the Lord becoming a sin-offering and dying upon the cross for us. "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." (Matt 26:42); "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Php 2:8) [See additional study links below]
Nehemiah's leadership — portrays Jesus.
called God's people to rise and build with him
"Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." (Neh. 2:17-18)
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (Matt 4:19-23); "And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him." (Mark 2:15); "But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him." (Mark 3:7-8)
enlisted workers to join in work
"Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. ... Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem." (Neh 2:17, 20) Nehemiah enlisted: Eliashib the high priest; the men of Jericho; Zaccur the son of Imri; the sons of Hassenaah; Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz; Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel; Zadok the son of Baana; the Tekoites; Jehoiada the son of Paseah; Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; Melatiah the Gibeonite; Jadon the Meronothite; the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah; Uzziel the son of Harhaiah; Rephaiah the son of Hur; Jedaiah the son of Harumaph; Hattush the son of Hashabniah; Malchijah the son of Harim; Hashub the son of Pahathmoab; Shallum the son of Halohesh; Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; Malchiah the son of Rechab; Shallun the son of Colhozeh; Nehemiah the son of Azbuk; the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani; Hashabiah; Bavai the son of Henadad; Ezer the son of Jeshua; Baruch the son of Zabbai; Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz; the priests, the men of the plain; Benjamin; Hashub; Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah; Binnui the son of Henadad; Palal the son of Uzai; Pedaiah the son of Parosh; the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel; the Tekoites; the priests, every one over against his house; Zadok the son of Immer; Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah; Hananiah the son of Shelemiah; Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph; Meshullam the son of Berechiah; Malchiah the goldsmith's son; the Nethinims; the goldsmiths; and the merchants [48 named people or groups (Neh ch 3)]
"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matt 10:1); "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come." (Luke 10:1) [See: The Individual Apostles; Notable Disciples]
labored with a sword in one hand
"... And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. ..." (Neh 4:1-21)
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," (Matt 5:1-2); "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matt 7:29); "And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" (Matt 13:54); "And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them." (Mark 2:13); "And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again." (Mark 10:1); "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:29) [Christ equips us to serve (workman, soldier) and gives us the Sword of the Spirit, His Word, to fight against our enemies, 1Cor 3:9; 15:58; Eph 4:11-12; 6:16-18; 2Tim 2:3]
finished the work given him
"So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days." (Neh 6:15); "Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed." (Neh 7:1)
"But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." (Mark 13:32); "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." (John 17:8); "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14); "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32); "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. ... When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:23, 30); the Church, the people of God, are His Bride, and the City of God -- Rev. 21:10-14
provided banquet table
"Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people." (Neh 5:17-19)
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt 4:4, Luke 4:4); "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:32-35); "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven." (John 6:32); "This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ... This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." (John 6:50-51, 58); "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." (Mark 13:32); "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." (John 17:8) [Taught people God's truth: Matt 5:2; 7:29; 13:54; Mark 1:22; 2:13; 4:2; 10:1; Luke 4:31; John 8:2]
presented a record of lineage
"And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this." (Neh 7:5-7)
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. ..." (Matt 1:1-25); "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, ... ... Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:23-38)
Nehemiah's struggle against opposition — portrays Jesus.
people of the nations stood against him
"But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?" (Neh 2:19)
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Psa 2:1-3); "Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." (Acts 4:25-28)
had enemies who actively opposed him
"When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. ... But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem." (Neh 2:10, 19-20); "But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. ... But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." (Neh 4:1, 7-8); "Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief." (Neh 6:1-2); "And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me." (Neh 6:12-13);
"Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him." (John 11:57); "And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine." (Mark 11:18); "And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him." (Luke 19:47); "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18); "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. ... But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people." (John 7:1, 10-12); "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:59); "But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode." (John 10:38-40); "And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him." (Luke 19:47); "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. ... But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:6, 15); "And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him." (Mark 15:12-14); (Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7; 14:1; 20:20; Matt. 21:46; Mark 12:12; 14:1, 11, 55; Luke 20:19; 22:2, 6; John 5:16; 7:25, 30; 8:37, 40; 11:8, 56; 18:4, 7-8) —|— "Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that." (Matt 27:4)
plots were made against him
"But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." (Neh 4:7-8); "Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief." (Neh 6:1-2) "Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me." (Neh 6:10-13); "Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear." (Neh 6:19)
"Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him." (John 11:57); "And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine." (Mark 11:18); "And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him." (Luke 19:47); "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18); "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. ... But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people." (John 7:1, 10-12); "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." (John 8:45); "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:59); "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18); "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. ... But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:6, 15); "And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him." (Mark 15:12-14); "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him." (Mark 3:6); "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death." (John 11:53)
resists fleshly pursuits
"So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing." (Neh 4:21-23) [Tobiah & Sanballat act according to the fleshly nature] "And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber." (Neh 13:7-8)
"... and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." (Isa 53:10);
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt 4:4, Luke 4:4); "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Matt 8:20; Luke 9:58); "Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel." (John 7:21); "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village" (Luke 9:51-56); "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" (Luke 12:50); "And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem." (Luke 13:22); "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15)
told to come down from finishing the work
"That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (Neh 6:2-3)
"He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him." (Mat 27:42); "Save thyself, and come down from the cross." (Mark 15:30)
tempted to quit or compromise
"That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner." (Neh 6:2-4)
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."(Matt 4:1-11); "And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him." (Mark 1:13); "And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." (Luke 9:53-55); "And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words." (Mark 12:13); "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25); "Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him." (Luke 11:54); "And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. ... Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace." (Luke 20:19-20, 22-26 [See: The Pharisees Ask Jesus A Question]); "And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." (Luke 23:41); "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Heb 2:18); "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Heb 4:15)
falsely accused, false political accusation
"Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." (Neh 6:5-9)
"And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King." (Luke 23:2); "Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him." (Luke 23:14); "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. ... But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:6, 15); "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." (Matt 26:60-61)
Nehemiah's results — portrays Jesus.
set captives free
" ... Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them." (Neh 5:5-11)
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." (Isa 61:1); "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:18-22)
finished his work and thereby defeated enemies
"So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God." (Neh 6:15-16)
"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:28-30)
reestablished the truth of God's word and the covenant
"And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. ... So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law." (Neh 8:1-9); "Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God. ... " (Neh 9:1-13)
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ... I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (Matt 5:19, 43); "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34); "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16); "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28:19-20); "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Heb 9:15)
establishes sabbath rest
"And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt." (Neh 10:31); "And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy." (Neh 13:22);
Jesus sets up the temple and priesthood again (Ezek chapters 40-47) and initiates the true Sabbath rest - His millennial reign (1000 years of Jesus' kingdom - see Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:1-10, 66:17-25) "Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? ... For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." (Matt 12:5, 8); "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." (Matt 12:10-12); "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." (Mark 2:27-28); "And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." (Luke 6:2-5); "And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" (Luke 13:12-16)
cleansed temple for true worship
"And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof." (Neh 13:7-14); "And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me." (Neh 13:28)
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zech 13); "And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (John 2:13-16); "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matt 21:12-13)
called for believers to populate Jerusalem
"And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants." (Neh 11:1-3); "For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession." (Psa 69:35); "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." (Psa 84:7); "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream." (Psa 126:1); "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." (Zech 2:10)
[See: sought spiritual renewal of his people] "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt 28:19); "And the gospel must first be published among all nations." (Mark 13:10); "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5:31); "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47); "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8);
and perhaps more ...
Notes:
1. Definition sources: https://www.godrules.net/library/kjvstrongs/kjvstrongsneh1.htm; http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5166.htm; http://www.thebookwurm.com/ref-neh.htm; https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=h5166
2. Queen, Hebrew, S#7694, from "And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,)" (Neh 2:6). This word hah-shegal=wife. Occurs here and in Psa 45:9; Dan 5:2, 3, 23. It is a word taken from the Akkadian sha=a bride, and gal=great. It is used of a foreign queen and here would exactly suit "the great bride" or "foreign (Jewish) queen," Esther. Compare Esther 4:14 where God brings Esther to this place just for this kind of purpose, to help God's people. [margin notes: The Companion Bible, E. W. Bullinger]
3. The words Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes are titles of the Persian king(s) and refer to the extent of their territorial reign. This quickly adds to the confusion about which person is referred to in Biblical texts.
A: The Companion Bible, E. W. Bullinger, Appendix 57: Darius the Median (Dan 5:31) <=> Artaxerxes (Ezra 6:14; Neh 2:1) <=> Astyages, the Ahasuerus of Esther 1:1 who is the father of Cyrus II (by Esther). Cyrus II <=> Cyrus the Persian (Isa 45:1; Ezra 6:14). Astyages <=> Arsames <=> Cambyses (who deposed Vashti). Arsames was the son of Cyrus I, grandson of Teispes. [Herodotus, Behistun Rock Inscription and Cylinder of Cyrus]
Hystaspis was the direct son of Vashti (Est 1:9). Darius Hystaspis' name meant he was the son of Hystaspes and therefor a grandson of Darius the Median. This makes Cyrus the Persian and Hystaspes step-brothers in the 1st generation from Darius the Median. And therefor Darius Hystaspis and Cambyses II (son of Cyrus the Persian) are in the 2nd generation from Darius the Median through different grandmothers. This does not mean that their ages are very similar in the 1st or 2nd generations. Since Vashti was deposed as queen her son could be 15 or more years older than the son of Esther.
B: The article at: Is Darius, the king of Ezra 6:14-15, the same king as the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7:1? offers reasons to conclude that the Darius of Ezra 6:14 is the same king as the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7:1. (The opposite view is presented at: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1827-artaxerxes-i)
In the Apocryphal Books, the Ahasuerus of Esther and the Darius Hystaspis of Ezra 6:14-15 are both identified as the same king, Artaxerxes (cf. Esdras 3:1-2; 6:5, Esther 1:1-3, Ezra 6:15). The Apocryphal Books support the proposition that Darius Hystaspis (?Longimanus), Ahasuerus of Esther 1:1 and Artaxerxes of Ezra 7:1 are the same person and king. In the Rest of Esther (Apocrypha), and in the LXX throughout, Ahasuerus is everywhere called Artaxerxes. In Ezra he is named three increasing ways: "King of Persia" (Ezra 6:14), "King of Assyria" (Ezra 6:22), and "Artaxerxes , king of kings" (Ezra 7:12) because during this time he increased his empire from 120 to 127 provinces (Rest of Esther 13:1, Apocrypha). Protestant reformer John Calvin concurs.
"We must remember that the Bible is the only contemporary historical writing we can find on this period, and the only one that even purports to give definite and precise chronological information. From the days of Ezra and Nehemiah to the birth of Christ, confusion and uncertainty exist in secular historical records as a consequence of the acceptance of the unreliable chronology of Ptolemy."
For further study of Nehemiah as a type:
Exalting Jesus in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ezra and Nehemiah: Types of Christ
In Nehemiah, Christ is the Re-builder of Broken walls
Nehemiah 1-3: Gates to the Gospel
Pieces Of The Puzzle - The Reflection Of Christ In Nehemiah
Types of Christ in the Old Testament
Gates of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's Day Reveal Christ