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OUTLINE OF NEHEMIAH

Neh 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. Neh 6:16 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 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Part One: The Reconstruction of the Wall (1:1-7:73)

I. The Preparation to Reconstruct the Wall 1:1-2:20

A.   Discovery of the Broken Wall     1:1-3

Neh 1:1 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,

Neh 1:3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

B.   Intercession of Nehemiah     1:4-2:8

1.       Nehemiah Intercedes with God    1:4-11

Neh 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain

2.       Nehemiah Intercedes with Artaxerxes 2:1-8

Neh 2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

Neh 2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

C.  Arrival of Nehemiah in Jerusalem     2:9-11

Neh 2:9 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.

D.  Preparation to Reconstruct the Wall . . 2:12-20

1.       Nehemiah Inspects the Broken Walls............. 2:12-16

Neh 2:13 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.

2.       Nehemiah Exhorts the People    2:17, 18

Neh 2:18 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.

3.       Nehemiah Answers the Enemies. . . 2:19, 20

Neh 2:19 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 2:20 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.

II. The Reconstruction of the Wall......... 3:1-7:73

A.  Record of the Builders     3:1-32

Neh 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.

Neh 3:32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

B.  Opposition to the Reconstruction . . . 4:1-6:14

1.   Opposition Through Ridicule    4:1-6

Neh 4:1 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.

2.   Opposition Through Threat of Attack 4:7-9

Neh 4:7 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,

Neh 4:8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

3.   Opposition Through Discouragement............. 4:10-23

Neh 4:10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

4.   Opposition Through Extortion    5:1-13

Neh 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

5.   Nehemiah's Unselfish Example    5:14-19

Neh 5:14 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.

6.   Opposition Through Compromise .... 6:1-4

Neh 6:1 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;)

Neh 6:2 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.

7.    Opposition Through Slander    6:5-9

Neh 6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

Neh 6:6 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.

8.    Opposition Through Treachery .... 6:10-14

Neh 6:10 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.

C.  Completion of the Reconstruction .... 6:15-19

Neh 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

D.  Organization of Jerusalem     7:1-4

Neh 7:1 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,

E.  Registration of Jerusalem     7:5-73

1.       The Plan    7:5, 6

Neh 7:5 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,

2.       The Remnant of Known Descent . . . 7:7-60

a.  The Leaders    7:7

Neh 7:7 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;

b.  The Men of Israel    7:8-38

Neh 7:8 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

c.  The Priests    7:39-42

Neh 7:42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

d.  The Levites    7:43-45

Neh 7:43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.

e.  The Servants    7:46-60

Neh 7:46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

Neh 7:60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

3.  The Remnant of Unknown Descent 7:61-65

a.  The Men of Israel    7:61, 62

Neh 7:61 And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.

b.  The Priests    7:63-65

Neh 7:63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

4.   The Total of the Remnant    7:66-69

Neh 7:66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

5.   The Gifts of the Remnant for the Temple..................... 7:70-73

Neh 7:70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

 

Part Two: The Restoration of the People (8:1-13:31)

I. The Renewal of the Covenant............................... 8:1-10:39

A.  Interpretation of the Law........................... 8:1-18

1.       Reading of the Law    8:1-8

Neh 8:1 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.

Neh 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

2.       Response to the Reading    8:9-18

a.  Israel Celebrates Her Understanding of the Law........... 8:9-12

Neh 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

b. Israel Obeys the Law..................... 8:13-18

Neh 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

B.   Reaffirmation of the Covenant............................... 9:1-10:39

1.       Spiritual Preparation of Israel    9:1-3

Neh 9:3 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.

2.       Reiteration of the Acts of Parties of the Covenant..................... 9:4-31

a.  The Great Deliverances of God . . 9:4-15

Neh 9:4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

Neh 9:9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

Neh 9:10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

b.  The Great Sins of Israel................. 9:16-31

Neh 9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

3.      Renewal of the Covenant    9:32-38

Neh 9:32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

Neh 9:38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

4.      Ratifiers of the Covenant    10:1-27

Neh 10:1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,

Neh 10:27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

5.      Stipulations of the Covenant    10:28-39

Neh 10:28 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;

Neh 10:29 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;

II. The Obedience to the Covenant............................... 11:1-13:31

A. Resettlement of the People.......................... 11:1-36

1.      Plan for the Resettlement    11:1, 2

Neh 11:1 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.

2.      Resettlement Within Jerusalem    11:3-24

Neh 11:4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

Neh 11:24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

3.      Resettlement Outside of Jerusalem 11:25-36

Neh 11:25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,

Neh 11:36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

B.  Register of the Priests and the Levites 12:1-26

Neh 12:1 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

Neh 12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

C.  Dedication of the Jerusalem Wall . . . 12:27-47

Neh 12:27 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.

D.  Restoration of the People     13:1-31

1.      Separation from the Heathen    13:1-9

Neh 13:1 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;

2.      Restoration of Levitical Support . . 13:10-14

Neh 13:10 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.

Neh 13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

3.      Restoration of the Sabbath    13:15-22

Neh 13:22 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.

4.      Restoration from Mixed Marriages 13:23-29

Neh 13:23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

Neh 13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

5.      Restoration in Summary    13:30, 31

Neh 13:30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

Neh 13:31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.