Version: King James Version (public domain)
Nehemiah
Rebuilding the walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls in the face of opposition and reorganizes the people’s life around the Law.
Historical context
Much of the book is told in the first person, like a governor’s journal.
Explanation
Best-known passages
- Nehemiah’s prayer (ch. 1)
- Rebuilding the walls (ch. 3–6)
- Ezra reads the Law to the people (ch. 8)