Nehemiah and the Walls of Jerusalem

Nehemiah son of Hacaliah served as cupbearer at the Persian court — a man to whom the king entrusted his life. When brothers returning from Judea told him that 'the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates burned with fire,' he fasted and wept for days, then risked everything by asking the king for leave and letters to the governors. He received both, and an appointment as governor of Judea.

For three days after arriving he told no one what he intended; then he rode around the ruins by night, and only afterwards gathered the elders: 'Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no longer a disgrace.' The work was divided among families and guilds — priests on the Sheep Gate, goldsmiths and merchants on their sections, men of Jericho and Tekoa on theirs. Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem first mocked, then plotted attack. Nehemiah stationed half his men with spears and shields while the builders worked armed, a trumpeter beside him to summon everyone to any breach. The wall was finished in fifty-two days.

Internal affairs were harder. He abolished debt slavery, forcing the wealthy to return mortgaged fields and children; he fought Sabbath trade by shutting the gates at sunset on Friday; and with Ezra he brought the people to a written covenant to keep the Torah.