Nehemiah, Book of: 1. The author of this book was no doubt Nehemiah himself. There
are portions of the book written in the first person
(Nehemiah 1:1-11)(Nehemiah 12:27-47; 13:1-31) But there are also portions of it in which
Nehemiah is spoken of in the third person
(Nehemiah 8:1-10:39) It is
supposed that these portions may have been written by Ezra; of
this, however, there is no distinct evidence. These portions had
their place assigned them in the book, there can be no doubt, by
Nehemiah. He was the responsible author of the whole book, with the
exception of
(Nehemiah 12:11,22,23).
2. The date at which the book was written was probably about B.C. 431
when Nehemiah had returned the second time to Jerusalem after his
visit to Persia.
3. The book, which may historically be regarded as a continuation of
the book of Ezra, consists of four parts.
a. An account of the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, and of
the register Nehemiah had found of those who had returned from
Babylon (ch. 1-7)
b. An account of the state of religion among the Jews during this
time (8-10).
c. Increase of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the census of the
adult male population, and names of the chiefs, together with
lists of priests and Levites (11:1-12:1-26).
d. Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the arrangement of the
temple officers, and the reforms carried out by Nehemiah
(Neh 12:27-13:31) This book closes the history of the Old
Testament. Malachi the prophet was contemporary with Nehemiah.
