Nehemiah Chapters 4-6

Summary of Key Themes in Chapters 4-6

External Opposition: Nehemiah and the people faced threats, mockery, and conspiracies from their enemies (Sanballat, Tobiah, and others), yet they trusted in God and took practical steps to defend themselves.

Internal Conflict: Social injustice within the Jewish community threatened to derail the rebuilding effort, but Nehemiah’s leadership brought about repentance and restoration.

Faith and Perseverance: Nehemiah’s prayerful dependence on God, discernment, and determination to stay focused on the mission ensured the successful completion of the wall

God’s Sovereignty: The success of the project was ultimately attributed to God’s help, as even the enemies acknowledged His involvement.

Nehemiah chapters 4, 5, and 6 present a powerful narrative of how God’s people overcame both external and internal challenges to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. The combination of prayer, practical action, unity, and God-centered leadership serves as a model for how believers today can persevere through adversity and accomplish God’s purposes. The successful completion of the wall in 52 days demonstrates that with God’s help, even seemingly impossible tasks can be achieved.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23

Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

The strategies used by the devil and his followers is the practical subject of this present Scripture. Satan will use every strategy possible to attack genuine believers, any person who truly follows Christ and seeks to keep the commandments of God.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

What is our response when others ridicule or mock us, assault or attack us, or even murder a loved one? Do we love only those who love us? Or do we love everyone in the name of Jesus Christ?

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

News of rebuilding the wall quickly traveled to the Jews’ enemies. A strong Jerusalem was a threat to Sanballat and the officials of the other surrounding nations. And if the Jews became strong enough, Sanballat and his associates would lose power and influence. They would lose their position, recognition, and honor as local leaders of the area.

Four Strategies Used By the Enemies of Believers

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

Strategy 1—ridicule, mockery: overcome by prayer and perseverance (vv. 1–6).

2. Strategy 2—conspiring, plotting to attack: overcome by standing watch and praying (vv. 7–9).

3. Strategy 3—discouragement and fatigue: overcome by drawing the LORD’s strength (v. 10).

4. Strategy 4—fear, threats, intimidation: overcome by being armed and trusting God’s power (v. 11–23).

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

First, Sanballat ridiculed the workers by asking what the “feeble Jews” thought they were doing? The word feeble (amelal) means frail, miserable, powerless, withered, weak. From all outward appearance the Jews were a powerless people.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

Standing by Sanballat’s side was Tobiah. Tobiah was an Ammonite official and also a fierce opponent of Nehemiah and the Jews (v. 3). He joined in the ridicule by echoing Sanballat’s mockery of the wall. Sneering at the Jews, he mockingly claimed that the wall was flimsy, so flimsy it would collapse if a fox climbed up and walked on it.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23)

Nehemiah’s answer to the ridicule and the threat of the Samaritan army? He prayed and persevered in the work (vv. 4–6). When Nehemiah heard about the ridicule by the opposition and the mobilization of the Samaritan army, he immediately turned to the LORD in prayer.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) D. Nehemiah’s Struggle with External Opposition: Four Strategies Used by the Enemies of Believers, 4:1–23

Through prayer we can be conquerors over all trials and temptations.

Chapter 5

Nehemiah’s Struggle with Internal Strife: A Lesson on the Desperate Need to Love Our Neighbors as Ourselves, 5:1–19)

Nehemiah’s Struggle with Internal Strife: A Lesson on the Desperate Need to Love Our Neighbors As Ourselves,

In chapter four, Nehemiah faced stiff, external opposition to rebuilding the walls. In chapter six, he will again struggle with external opposition. But here in chapter five, Nehemiah faces the most serious threat of all, that of internal strife.

Internal division & strife is actually more dangerous than outside opposition

Galatians 5:15 NKJV

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

The strife was so divisive that it threatened to destroy the unifying spirit and purpose of the people. If the strife was allowed to continue, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the nation could cease.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (E. Nehemiah’s Struggle with Internal Strife: A Lesson on the Desperate Need to Love Our Neighbors as Ourselves, 5:1–19)

The heavy burden of solving the strife rested upon the shoulders of Nehemiah. How God used him to restore unity among the people and to guarantee the fulfillment of God’s promises through the Jewish people is the historical subject of this present chapter.

Chapter 5 Verses 1-9

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (E. Nehemiah’s Struggle with Internal Strife: A Lesson on the Desperate Need to Love Our Neighbors as Ourselves, 5:1–19)

Three groups were being oppressed during a famine

The Poor who did not enough food to survive

Property owners who had to mortgage their fields & homes to buy food

Others who had to borrow money to pay their taxes

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (King James Version) (E. Nehemiah’s Struggle with Internal Strife: A Lesson on the Desperate Need to Love Our Neighbors as Ourselves, 5:1–19)

There was a loud cry of protest against the wealthy Jews, for they were creating a serious economic crisis for the returnees. Right in the middle of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the rich were oppressing the workers through exploitation and extortion in order to gain more for themselves. In desperation both husbands and wives approached Nehemiah with a loud cry of protest against the wealthy.

After regaining his emotions, Nehemiah confronted the situation head on.

First, he rebuked those who were violating God’s command not to charge their own people interest

Exodus 22:25 NKJV

“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Leviticus 25:35 NKJV

‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.

Deuteronomy 23:19–20 NKJV

“You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest. To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.

Money could be loaned but not for gain from another persons distress

Deuteronomy 15:7–8 NKJV

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

Nehemiah called a large meeting pointing out the inconsistencies of their behavior compared with what he and others in exile had done.

Nehemiah and others had already purchased (redeemed) some indentured Jews who were sold to foreigners

But now the opposite was happening; Jews were selling their fellow Jews into slavery.

Leviticus 25:47–49 NKJV

‘Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself.

Nehemiah’s final action was intensely personal. He referred to his own example and that of others who were already helping those in need by lending them money and grain.

He was already doing something about the problem. So he was not asking the people to do something he was not doing himself

Compassion, —Service, of Unselfish Service—Leadership

Nehemiah, a Strong Example of Leadership, Duty, & being Unselfish Nehemiah was a sterling role model for leaders of all succeeding generations.

Although he was governor for 12 years during the reign of King Artaxerxes, he did not use his position to build a kingdom for himself. Rather, he used his authority to serve the people.

No doubt Nehemiah was pleased when the people responded to his exhortations.

But knowing that words are cheap and easy to say on the spur of the moment under public pressure, he made the guilty leaders nobles and officials; take another step—to take an oath affirming that they would do what they had said. The priests witnessed the oathtaking.

Chapter 6