Nehemiah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nehemias |
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| Saint, Leader of the Israelites, Prophet | |
| Honored in | Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 13 July |
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Nehemiah was a very important leader in ancient times. He is the main character in the Book of Nehemiah in the Bible. This book tells the story of how he helped rebuild the city of Jerusalem. This happened during a time known as the Second Temple period.
Nehemiah served as a governor in a region called Judea. This area was part of the large Persian Empire at the time. Most experts believe Nehemiah was a real person. They also think the parts of the book written from his point of view are historically accurate.
Contents
Nehemiah's Story: Rebuilding Jerusalem
Around 445 or 444 BC, Nehemiah worked for King Artaxerxes I of Persia. His job was a "cup-bearer" to the king. This was a trusted position. He heard that the Jewish people in Judea were having a hard time. He also learned that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down.
Nehemiah asked the king for permission to go back to Jerusalem. He wanted to help rebuild the city. This was about 20 years after another important leader, Ezra, had arrived in Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes agreed to Nehemiah's request.
Governor of Judea and City Walls
The king sent Nehemiah to Judea as its governor. He gave Nehemiah letters showing his support. He also provided wood from the royal forests for the building project. Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah faced many challenges. Enemies from nearby regions tried to stop him. These included people from Samaria, Ammon, Arabia, and Philistia.
Despite the opposition, Nehemiah led the effort to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. It was an amazing achievement. The walls were completed in just 52 days! They rebuilt sections like the Sheep Gate, the Hananeel Tower, the Fish Gate, and the Dung Gate.
Bringing Order to the Community
After rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah worked to bring more people back to live in Jerusalem. He also helped make the Jewish community stronger. He made sure that debts were canceled for those who owed money. He supported Ezra in teaching the laws of Moses to the people. He also made sure Jewish men divorced their non-Jewish wives, which was part of the law at that time.
Nehemiah served as governor for 12 years. He ruled fairly and with strong principles. After this time, he returned to the king in a city called Susa.
Return to Jerusalem and Reforms
Later, Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem. He found that some people had stopped following the laws. Non-Jewish people were doing business in Jerusalem on the Sabbath (a holy day of rest). Some people were even keeping rooms inside the Temple for their own use.
Nehemiah was very upset by this. He took action to clean up the Temple. He also made sure the priests and Levites (religious leaders) were doing their jobs correctly. He strongly enforced the laws of Moses again.
Nehemiah in Other Books
Book of Maccabees
The Second Book of Maccabees also mentions Nehemiah. It says he brought holy fire for the altar back to Jerusalem. It also states that he started a library of holy scriptures. This was similar to what Judas Maccabeus did later. In this book, Nehemiah's leadership is seen as a great example. He became a role model for religious and national leaders. The way he read and explained the Torah (Jewish law) became a model for how worship happens in synagogues today. You can read more about this in 2 Maccabees 2:13.
Book of Sirach
In the book of Sirach, Nehemiah is praised for his building work. He is mentioned after other important figures like Zerubbabel and Joshua. (Sirach 49:15).
Veneration
Nehemiah is honored as a saint in both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- His feast day in the Catholic Church is July 13.
- In the Orthodox Church, he is remembered on the Sunday of the Forefathers. This is a special movable holiday that falls between December 11 and 17.
See also
In Spanish: Nehemías para niños
- Governors of Yehud Medinata
- Sanballat the Horonite
- Tobiah (Ammonite)
