Nehemiah’s intent was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, destroyed by Babylonian soldiers some one hundred forty years ago. He had put his case to the king (Nehemiah 2:1–6), then to Jerusalem’s leadership (Nehemiah 2:17). They in turn agreed to join the rebuilding effort (Nehemiah 2:18). Nehemiah 3:1–32 provides us with a list of who laboured on which section of the wall. The rebuilding, however, did not proceed without challenges. Nehemiah 4:1–3 related the ridicule that came from enemies outside the Jewish nation. Nehemiah 4:7–14 indicated the steps Nehemiah took to overcome the threat of physical attacks. In Nehemiah 5:1–19 the inspired writer relates that obstacles arose also from within the circle of the saints. We’re shown that the sense of cohesion and unity communicated in Nehemiah 3:1–4:23 has fractured under very serious strain.
1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.