Rebuilding the City Walls

Twelve years after Ezra's return to Jerusalem, word had gotten back to Nehemiah about the state of affairs there. He held the position of Artaxerxes cupbearer, which was akin to the chief of staff and second only to the king. As a man of influence, he was able to gain Artaxerxes approval for a return to Jerusalem and was named the governor of that region. Sanballat, governor of Samaria, and Tobiah, governor of Ammon, (both operating under the authority of Artaxerxes), opposed the work. Papyri of Elephantine, which are letters written from Jews in Babylon to a group of Jews who had fled from a colony in Egypt called Elephantine after the destruction of Jerusalem, confirm the existence of both men. Despite the opposition, Nehemiah had the wall around the city repaired within 52 days. The length of the wall is not precisely known but is estimated to have been at minimum 2 miles long and encompassing an area of 90 acres, and at maximum 2 1/2 miles long and enclosing 120 acres. This was a substantial effort and one that was shared by the entire community.

Tomorrow's reading: Neh. 7:4-8:12