Looking at the verse in this context brings a little different picture. The command starts the process and the focus of the command is to return and build Jerusalem. Verse 6. 5Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children are the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and vineyards now belong to others.. Notes And Next Steps Nehemiah 3 + Part 4 of the series "Nehemiah: Rise & Build" The Sheep Gate (3:1). See how ppl dont continue reading to see that the wall was continued in the 32nd year?! Enemies of God heard the people were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah's leadership; they were jealous and they were furious. . This decree or command by YHWH (in the 12th month, 2nd year of Darius) followed a similar decree given to Haggai just a few months earlier(Hag.1). Your interpretation of a verse does not make it any more the word of God than does mine. [] hidden behind weed-like wildflowers that grew out of cracks in the wall. Nothing symbolically or literally even comes close to this command by YHWH, a command which was witness by both Haggai and Zechariah. I found the picture on their website under the caption A prophet or Nehemiah west facade, south portal, right side, mid-12th c. Location: St. Lazare, Avallon, France. Cyruss decree initially started the process, but then it was interrupted and the Temple construction stopped. This evidence of God's blessing encourages the Jews and is a terrific blow to the self-confidence of their enemies. They will be captured by many false competing Churches and charlatan Prophets around us. Will they restore things? By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. It also has nothing to do with feasts of weeks, nor does Daniel say anything at all about seventy weeks.. and Artaxerxes comes from the waw proceeding Artaxerxes. Why did they have to build with one hand and have a weapon in the other hand? If you have a year exactly equal to 364 days (the solar year used by the Book of Jubilees), then 52 days is exactly one-seventh of a year. [] In it, Nehemiah describes his efforts to rebuild the city, even in the face of hostile neighbors: NehemiahThe Man Behind the Wall Biblical Archaeology Society Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to []. The governors of surrounding territories viciously oppose Nehemiah's efforts, but the wall is finished in just 52 days ( Neh 7:15 ). Answer (1 of 3): Re your query: Did Nehemiah rebuild the temple? This company acts as an image bank/agency they own, or represent photographers (and artists, if recent), with regard to copyright. Nowhere, absolutely nowhere, current or in historical records of the past almost one thousand years, is there any reference to Nehemiah! We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it'. Since Ezra and Nehemyah were together in Yerushalayim at some point (Ezra 8:9) it is unlikely to have been a different Artakhashast in each story. [], [] like in Nehemiahs time, we are living within broken down walls. Could we take 52 days to accomplish something similar? How about it? of Ancient Kingdoms Amended). This is where I admittedly find it frustrating when discussing this subject. The Scriptural basis for their calculations was likely Ezra 6:14. 19Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people. 6So we rebuilt the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work. The Bible doesn't say Nehemiah had wall-building experience or even leadership experience. It is in Hebrew , Nemyh, "Yah comforts". Dorothy Resig Willette is the former Managing Editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. 15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Thats too big a price to pay, and unnecessary. . Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital, 2one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I at the capital city of Susa, which lay 150 miles east of the Tigris River in what is now modern Iran. That would put Ezras aliyah around 515 BCE, and Nehemyahs time in Yerushalayim from around 502 BCE to 490 BCE. Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbishand burnt ones at that? 3Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, That stone wall they are buildingany fox going up on it would break it down! 4Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 1Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they intended to do me harm. YHWHs house is the heart of Jerusalem, without its completion nothing else matters. Despite of them we steadily kept on our building, and the result was that soon all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof - the whole continuous line of wall was completed to half the contemplated height. God bless. In the eighth chapter of Daniel, the phrase evening-morning(s) was used to indicate Passovers. If you are talking about Daniel 8:14, I do not see anything about Pesach. Will they restore things? I would like to see more biblical dating using David Rohls new Chronology. YHWHs decree in the 2nd year of Darius Hystaspes (through Haggai & Zechariah) to restart contruction of the temple which had stopped sometime earlier. Nehemiah understood the urgency of rebuilding the wall and because he was obedient to God, it was completed in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). * See Aaron Demsky, Who Returned FirstEzra or Nehemiah? Bible Review, April 1996. im so interested with 12 gates of jerusalem. Each issue of Biblical Archaeology Review features lavishly illustrated and easy-to-understand articles such as: Fascinating finds from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament periods, The latest scholarship by the world's greatest archaeologists and distinguished scholars, Stunning color photographs, informative maps, and diagrams, Reviews of the latest books on biblical archaeology, 45+ years of Biblical Archaeology Review, 20+ years of Bible Review online, providing critical interpretations of biblical texts. Nice talking to you. Where do you get the following statement from? We will do as you say. And I called the priests, and made them take an oath to do as they had promised. They told me that those who had survived and were back in the homeland were in great difficulty and that the foreigners who lived . 2And the men of Jericho built next to him. In Part 1 prayer was discussed and in this article we have discussed preparation and . This verse describes the commands which were instrumental in the rebuilding of the Temple and its eventual completion. Families and professional groups take on the responsibility for repairing stretches of the wall, while gates are provided with attics, doors, bolts and bars, and towers are rebuilt. 11Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith YHWH of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. Darius Hystaspes checks the records and confirms that in fact Cyruss did issue a decree and therefore the contruction could go on. Respectfully, Nathaniel, you are incorrect in your interpretation. 1Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2I gave my brother Hanani charge over Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadelfor he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. A survey of websites with information on the town of Avallon and its church with its unusual, single portal statue (the front entrance of most mediaeval churches with such statues are usually lined by several of them on either side), ALL refer to it as depicting a prophet. This single letter and its use is the basis for the120 years of missing chronology as well as Christian chronologists attempts to show that Nehemiah and Ezra were contemporary with Artaxerxes Longimanus. I will not go in! 12Then I perceived and saw that God had not sent him at all, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. At the end all glory to God was given. About a century and a half after Nebuchadnezzar's conquest, the walls and gates of the city were still broken down. Contextually there is no evidence for another Artaxerxes who was instrumental in getting the temple builded and finished by the 6th year as stated in Ezra 6. 27After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. Daniyel 9 has nothing to do with Yeshu, the Roman fabrication. 18And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. Combining Nehemiah's times with his character, we get the message of this book: Nehemiah proves that seemingly impossible things . Nehemiah 2:20 'The God of heaven will give us success. He also provided a place where the people could wait for God's salvation. They went up on the wall by the stairs at the Fountain Gate and then marched in opposite directions around the city. Once there, Nehemiah defied the opposition of Judah's enemies on all sidesSamaritans, Ammonites, Arabs and Philistinesand rebuilt the walls within 52 days, from the Sheep Gate in the North, the Hananeel Tower at the North West corner, the Fish Gate in the West, the Furnaces Tower at the Temple Mount's South West Dig into more than 9,000 articles in the Biblical Archaeology Societys vast library plus much morewith an All-Access pass. 24After him Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the Angle and to the corner. A claim to an artists impression of Nehemiahs likeness is thus born. [] Nehemiah was a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I at the capital city of Susa, which lay 150 miles east of the Tigris River in what is now modern Iran. The 70 weeks are thus seventy Feasts of Weeks and are divided into three divisions: 7 weeks from 42-36 BCE, 62 weeks from 35 BCE-27 CE, and the final week ending in 28 CE at the beginning of Jesus ministry. (Site from http://www.biblicalarchaelogy.org) [], [] Nehemiah was a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I at the capital city of Susa, which lay 150 miles east of the Tigris River in what is now modern Iran. How many days did it take Nehemiah and his leaders to rebuild Jerusalem's walls? According to a story, Nehemiah, a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I at the capital city of Susa, was very troubled that there was no wall to protect his beloved city of Jerusalem, its walls and gates. The dating of the ministries of Nehemiah and Ezra have been juggled to fit both Jewish and Christian misinterpretations of Daniel 9, unfortunately, and repeated so often that they have become gospel in their respective circles. Daniel 9:25 is tied to the 490 weeks of years when Nehemiah restored the walls in Jerusalem. The word used in Daniyel is shavuim, while the word for weeks is shavuot. There was no other mention of him, until after the rebuilding of the city walls. (Nehemiah 6:16). Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem in 445 B.C. You see, God is NOT against building walls! 3The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. This Bible History Daily feature was originally published in August 2012. As can be understand now, from the studies in Intelligence, we know this device was a cube shaped set of 5 geometric solids. As athletes engage with Scripture, they . Nehemiah built a spiritual wall for their covenant with God relationship presence help in time of trouble. And next to them Zaccur son of Imri built. The answer is that Nehemiah did not build on top of the ridge but repaired Hezekiah's mid-slope wall. How difficult would that be to hold a weapon and build the wall? A race of slaves emerge from slavery to become a nation. Once the defenses had been rebuilt by Antipater, the seven weeks and sixty-two weeks and one week (totaling seventy weeks) could begin, and that is exactly what happened. These walls had been down for 100 years. So we have: 1. http://kofh2u.tripod.com/kofh/. If you sort through the rather scarce historical references of Messianic expectancy in the 1st century BCE you will find like Newton and Davidson that a huge portion of the Persian era was eclipsed. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man! 13 But go your way till the end. 4. 5I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. The liberal wants to revise history by dithering about dates . Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem's wall in only 52 days. Ok here is chapter 2 of Nehemiah.. Israel is Gods earthly time clock. I am not a scholar or a biblical archaeologist, just someone who has viewed Nehemiahs role and strategies as a model of best practise in leadership and how to empower a community/ people. The only decree that does fit, and fit exactly using all of the biblical text, is the decree issued by Julius Caesar in 44 BCE that was recorded by Josephus as mentioned above. Both I and my family have sinned. Key Notes: The wall was done in 52 days. Accordingly, it can be seen that the time period covered by the prophecy of the seventy weeks is seventy years, not 490 years. He read the Book of Moses and wanted to make sure the people stayed faithful to God's ways. The 1st part of the verse says they builded and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. Of course, no artist can claim knowledge of what any biblical character looked like. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. Israel became a nation 69 years ago!! @ Willaim If you can make that translation fit history, more power to you. - So built we the wall.Rather, "and we (still) built the wall" Insults and gibes had no effect on us - did not touch us. 8 years of Archaeology Odyssey online, exploring the ancient roots of the Western world in a scholarly and entertaining way, The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. Im very glad to look your post. Nothing else would qualify. 7We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. One of the most astonishing facts about Nehemiah is that he finished the walls in just 52 days. 15The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people, and took food and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. 14After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them. Biblical Archaeology Review is the guide on that fascinating journey. 2He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, What are these feeble Jews doing? Nehemiah Prays for His People. 10Next to them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house; and next to him Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs. And the Old Testament book of Nehemiah records how Nehemiah completed that massive project in record time just 52 days. This event symbolically and chronologically marked the end of the 70 years of Jerusalems desolation. 7Then I said to the king, If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may grant me passage until I arrive in Judah; 8and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the kings forest, directing him to give me timber to make beams for the gates of the temple fortress, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy. And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me. Once there, Nehemiah defied the opposition of Judah's enemies on all sidesSamaritans, Ammonites, Arabs and Philistinesand rebuilt the walls within 52 days, from the Sheep Gate in the North, the Hananeel Tower at the North West corner, the Fish Gate in the West, the Furnaces Tower at the Temple Mount's South West. interesting question, Wasen,t Nehemiah considered an eunich? Required fields are marked *. I think Isaac Newtons explanation gets the closest: They seem to have grounded their opinion on the 70 weeks, which they reckoned form the 1st year of Cyrus. External attacks on the Church and some of the repair-workers. The wall was at last completed52 days (a week shy of two months) after the reconstruction under Nehemiah commenced (verse 15). My interpretation fits both Scripture and history. 13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate; they rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate. 2For there were those who said, With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive. 3There were also those who said, We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine. 4And there were those who said, We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the kings tax. The book of Nehemiah records the rebuilding of Jerusalem's city wall in about 445BC. If the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah is Longimanus then this would mean those chiefs of their fathers were at the most conservative estimation, 122 years old. Your theory is very interesting, but based on these statements alone, I cannot justify the 70 weeks referring to 70 years (or 70 Shavuot). Thanks for the article. This can only be sadness of the heart. Then I was very much afraid. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ, reaching millions worldwide. No power tools. How did Nehemiah rebuild the walls? 5Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord. I enjoyed reading it all but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth as I thought how much unbelievers love to see us disagree with one anotherjust some food for thought to all. God was using Nehemiah to lead His people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. It is correct. Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.He was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia (465-424 BC). 2In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. 18Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and every ten days skins of wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because of the heavy burden of labour on the people. Nehemiahs leadership style is not the most common. In the twelfth chapter, the word days was used to indicate Day(s) of Atonement. I assume you are talking about Daniel 12:11-13, which says the following: 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. After hearing about the sad state of affairs in Judah, Nehemiah acquired the kings permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and its fortifications. 7You have also set up prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, There is a king in Judah! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. If the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah references Darius son of Hystaspes their minimum age would have been 66 years. In the past 2000 years, no one else has. In an individual life, then, the rebuilding of the walls would be a picture of re-establishing the strength of that life. 2. Although they simply repaired the pre-existing walls elsewhere in the city, the wall just above the steep Kidron Valley was too damaged and too difficult to mend. Nehemiah told their enemies, "The God of heaven will give us success. It took Nehemiah 52 days to reinforce the gaps and rebuild the wall. . Although Newton believed the early messianic expectants based their counting from the 1st year of Cyrus, it is more likely as Davidson noted, the 2nd year of Darius Hystaspes which was the basis for the chronological errors that crept into the early rabbinic chronology. 9Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and gave them the kings letters. The walls of . The decree signified by Daniel 9 that starts the 70 weeks is the decree issued by Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, that says: Gaius Caesar, consul the fifth time [in 44 BCE], hath decreed, That the Jews shall possess Jerusalem, and may encompass that city with walls; and that Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews, retain it in the manner he himself pleases; and that the Jews be allowed to deduct out of their tribute, every second year the land is let [in the Sabbatic period], a corus of that tribute; and that the tribute they pay be not let to farm, nor that they pay always the same tribute. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 14.10.5 (Whiston translation). They were allowed to return to Israel to rebuild their nation. 3I said to the king, May the king live for ever! http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/80353228.jpg, [] study is all about destiny and reversal of destiny. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name. 10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. Not only did he trust God to bless his efforts, he physically did his part to complete the project. One of the most astonishing facts about Nehemiah is that he finished the walls in just 52 days If you've ever been to Jerusalem, and seen the size and capacity of the stones you realize the monumental task that was at hand. Sift through the storied history of ancient Israel. So from the restoring of the wall in 492BCE to messiah the Prince in 2BCE, that equals 490. Nehemiah Chapter 3 1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. Studying them will reveal something about getting close God. Now the 70 is a dual prophecy and the 2nd part is due to be fulfilled soon!! He expounded and enforced the Law of God. The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. [52 days] What did Nehemiah do after rebuilding the walls? Again I ask you to consider. Nehemiah 4-6. How difficult is it to build a wall? Nehemiah's Wall. So Foto Marburg for the rare occasion that a client specifically wants a Nehemiah labels a statue by an unknown artist thus, taking care to cover themselves legally by stating that actually its a prophet OR (possibly) Nehemiah (when, of course, neither may be true, but prophet is wide enough by definition). The following text is the first portion of the Nehemiah Memoir (1:17:4) from the New Revised Standard Version. After him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. From the coming forth means the times were set at the finish. He is even given letters from the king to ensure safe passage and to obtain timber from the kings forest for the gates and walls of Jerusalem. It took Nehemiah 52 days to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. They knew that the command given by YHWH was in the same year as the command given by Darius, Artaxerxes, son of Hystaspes in his 2nd year. 4Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz made repairs. The man of sin will in fact make a military protective covenant with Israel which ushers in the rapture of the called out born again church and begins the ticking on Israel for the last week. http://www.google.co.id/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/images/nehem3.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/nehem3.htm&h=487&w=479&sz=5&tbnid=QnjiF52e5PjYCM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=89&zoom=1&usg=__BFMaBwzC558rhaR9TbUt9gfkj1o=&docid=UL4e0C1vyquoqM&sa=X&ei=MgB-UMy6N4HJrQfEj4HQBA&ved=0CD4Q9QEwBA&dur=4303. Here is your ticket to join us as we discover more and more about the biblical world and its people. Chapter 4 So let's pick up the story in Nehemiah 4. Kind of like a pervert pedophile looking for a job with the boys choir or the boy scouts, I guess. 12 gates in that map is still remain today? Ezra and Nehemiah, and the wall built during their time, have nothing to do with Daniel 9. He enlisted the help of the people to quickly repair the breaches in the wall. I would also like to address a comment regarding Yeshu, the Roman Fabrication. Yeshua being a Roman fabrication is as reasonable and historically accurate as those who say Israel is a British one. 11:18-19; 1Chron. Within 52 days the walls were rebuilt and the gates restored in spite of intense internal and external opposition! Nehemiah served as the kings cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11), which evidently put him in a position to speak to the king. Each time a new Messianic zealot came along and needed a new basis for claiming a fulfillment of Daniel 9 they would conveniently associate the command given by YHWH in the 2nd year of Darius even Artaxerxes with the 2nd year of a new Artaxerxes thus eclipsing the Persian period by jumping from one to another. Once there, Nehemiah defied the opposition of Judah's enemies on all sidesSamaritans, Ammonites, Arabs and Philistinesand rebuilt the walls within 52 days, from the Sheep Gate in the North, the Hananeel Tower at the North West corner, the Fish Gate in the West, the Furnaces Tower at the Temple Mount's South West. Empower. Tonyagonna have to chew on this for awhile! Just shows to go you that, just because a guy pulls up his sleeves, and is the first one to jump in and work, it sometimes doesnt mean what it appears to mean. Seek Gods knowledge now!! According to Jewish tradition the Artakhshast of Ezra and Nehemyah is the same as Daryavesh I. Four months later, they arrived in Jerusalem. However, week of years is not the meaning of the word weeks used to specify the seven weeks and sixty-two weeks in verse 25.