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AUTHOR: It cannot be said with absolute certainty whether it was Nehemiah himself who compiled the book or whether it was an unknown author. By Jewish tradition, the scribe Ezra is the author of Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah. Other authors, such as Pearlman, accept the authorship of this book as Nehemiah.
THEMATIC: The historical period covered by the two Books (Ezra-Nehemiah) is approximately 110 years. The theme is the political restoration of Jerusalem. While the Book of Ezra highlights the religious restoration of Jerusalem, the Book of Nehemiah describes the political restoration. Nehemiah sacrificed his life of luxury and pleasure in order to support his needy brothers in Jerusalem. Thirteen years after Ezra went up to Jerusalem, Nehemiah arrives, according to Mesquita (1983a, p. 252), “in the year 444, the 20th of Artaxerxes I”. Thus, Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem in just 52 days, in spite of bitter opposition, and in conjunction with this act brings about many general reforms among the people.
There is evidence, including textual evidence, that Nehemiah would have been a eunuch. He certainly seems to have been seen as such in later texts of Judaism, for in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint) he is described as an "eunochos" (eunuch), not an "oinochoos" (cupbearer). Furthermore, he served in the presence of both the king and queen, which increases the possibility that he was castrated.
COMPILATION: According to the Talmudic record, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were considered one. It was compiled approximately in 457 / 444 BC, it consists of 13 chapters and 406 verses.
CHRONOLOGY (ESTIMATED) | |
586 B.C. | Judah Taken Captive by Babylon |
539 BC | Cyrus conquers Babylon |
538 BC | Jews begin to return to Judea |
536 to 515 BC | The temple is rebuilt |
464 to 424 BC | Artaxerxes reigns in Persia |
458 BC | Ezra leads a returning party |
444 BC | Nehemiah leads a returning party |
443 BC | The wall of Jerusalem is rebuilt |