Nehemiah 7-9

We pick up in Nehemiah 7 when the wall has finally been rebuilt, the gates put in, and guards assigned to their posts.

In chapter 7, Nehemiah writes of how many citizens had fled the city, during the attacks. He makes a compiled list of all the families and priests that lived in the city to call them back to begin rebuilding the homes inside the city walls. The governor of Jerusalem, Nehemiah, gives gold to help with rebuilding and many heads of their families give as well. Now, with people, finances and motivation, Jerusalem can start to be rebuilt.

In chapter 8, Ezra the priest begins reading the Books of Moses, starting on the first day of the seventh month and ending eight days later. It also writes about how many Levites and ones returning from exile make temporary houses out of olive branches. They make these houses near the main gate, where Ezra is reading the Law, as to not miss anything he says.

Chapter 9 is mainly a lengthy prayer to the Lord, explaining much of the past of the people of Jerusalem and asking for forgiveness on behalf of their ancestors and their people. The last few verses say that many agreed with this prayer and wished to make a binding agreement with the Lord and had many leaders and Levites seal this agreement.

-Alec