Bible Chapter Summary
Nehemiah 2 Summary
The King's Permission to Rebuild
King Artaxerxes notices Nehemiah's sadness and asks the reason. Nehemiah explains that Jerusalem's walls are ruined and its gates burned. The king grants him permission to go to Judah to rebuild, provides letters to governors for safe passage, and orders Asaph to provide timber. Nehemiah inspects the ruins secretly at night and then rallies the people to begin building, though enemies Sanballat and Tobiah mock their efforts.
Key themes
Key verses
Nehemiah 2:4
“Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.”
Nehemiah 2:5
“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.”
Nehemiah 2:17
“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.”
Nehemiah 2:20
“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.”
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