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May 10 - Evening
"In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of
King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him,
I (Nehemiah) took the wine and gave it to the king.
I had not been sad in his presence before,
so the king asked me,
‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’
I was very much afraid, but I said to the king,
‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’
The king said to me,
‘What is it you want?’
Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
and I answered the king,
‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.’
Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him,
asked me,
‘How long will your journey take,
and when will you get back?’
It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time."
- Nehemiah 2:1-6 |
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| Nehemiah Requests a Favor in the Presence of the King |
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It had been four months since Nehemiah had heard of Jerusalem’s continued broken down condition (Nov/Dec 446 BC to Mar/April 445 BC). Artaxerxes and the queen of Persia were being served by Nehemiah when Artaxerxes noticed that Nehemiah was disturbed about something. The king literally asked Nehemiah, “Why is your face so bad?”
The text says that Nehemiah “was very much afraid” when the king made this comment. The reason for Nehemiah’s fear could be that if Nehemiah’s “bad face” had displeased the king the consequences could have been serious.
The other reason for Nehemiah’s fear is that it was Artaxerxes himself who had ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem to be stopped 18 years earlier in 464 BC because “it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition.” (Ezra 4:19). (See the Samaritans letter and Artaxerxes reply HERE in Ezra 4:6-22 that stopped the rebuilding). Ezra had been allowed to return in 458 BC by Artaxerxes to teach and offer sacrifices (see Artaxerxes letter here in Ezra 7:11-26). But, now in 445 BC Nehemiah was about to ask the great king of Persia to issue a decree right then and there while he and his queen were being served wine to grant Nehemiah permission to do something Artaxerxes had forbidden 18 years earlier.
So, when Artaxerxes asked, “What is it you want?”, Nehemiah had the answer. He said, “Let the king send me to the city in Judah…so that I can rebuild it.”
King Artaxerxes’ reply was simple: “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” This was an affirmative response, so Nehemiah set a time and preparations began.
Artaxerxes' silver bowl from the 400's BC found in ancient Persia can be seen HERE, HERE and
HERE. This 12 inch bowl is inscribed with the name of Artaxerxes and, also his father's name, Xerxes, is on the bowl. (Details HERE and HERE). See a close up view of the cuneiform script HERE with Old Persian cuneiform script with a text that says:
"Artaxerxes the Great King, King of Kings, King of Countries,
son of Xerxes the King, of Xerxes [who was] son of Darius the King;
in whose royal house this silver saucer was made."
Map of Nehemiah's journey to Jerusalem from Susa HERE.
| 458 |
- In Artaxeres’ seventh year he issues the decree to rebuild
and restore Jerusalem.
- Ezra leaves Babylon on April 8 and arrives in Jerusalem on
August.
- December 19 the people assemble and the investigation of
intermarriage begins.
- The 70 weeks (or, 490 years) of Daniels prophecy in Daniel
9:25 begins with Artaxerxes’ decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem in 458 BC. The decree is found in Ezra 7:12-26.
The 70 weeks (490 years) are interrupted after 69 weeks
(483 years) with the coming of the Messiah. 458 BC minus
483 years equals 25/26 AD which is when John the Baptists
will introduce the Messiah to the Jewish nation
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Decree to Rebuild
Ezra
Ezra 7: 8-9,12-26
Daniel 9:25
Ezra 10:9-16 |
| 457 |
Ezra committee ends their three month long investigation
into intermarriage by Mar/Apr |
Ezra 10:17 |
| 446 |
Nov/Dec, Nehemiah is in Susa and hears a report from a Jew from Jerusalem that the walls of Jerusalem have not been rebuilt |
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1 |
| 445 |
- Artaxerxes 20th year
- Mar/Apr, Nehemiah, Artaxerxes cup bearer, speaks to
Artaxerxes about Jerusalem’s ruined wall system. (Neh. 2:1)
- August 10, Nehemiah begins to rebuild the walls of
Jerusalem.
- Opposition to building the walls. (Neh. 4, 6)
- October 2, The walls of Jerusalem are completed in 52 days.
(Neb. 6:15)
- October 8, Ezra reads the law to public for first time in
thirteen years. (8:2)
- October 9, the people of Jerusalem celebrate the Feast of
Tabernacles. (8:13)
- October 30, Israel confesses their sin. (Neh. 9)
- If Esther were 25 when she married Xerxes she is now 58
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Nehemiah 2:1
Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah 6:15
Nehemiah 8:2
Nehemiah 8:13
Nehemiah 9 |
| 433 |
- Nehemiah is recalled to Artaxerxes after a 12 year absence.
- Artaxerxes is in his 32 year as the king of the Persian
Empire.
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Nehemiah 5:14
Nehemiah 13:6 |
| 432 |
- The book of Malachi is written.
- Malachi accuses:
1. the priest of not honoring God
2. the people of unlawful marriages
3. the people of having given up on the Lord’s return
4. the people of failing to give properly to God
- Malachi ends with a promise in 3:1, “See, I will send my
messenger.”
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Malachi |
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"I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I were sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my
verdict in its favor."
- Alexander Hamilton
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Solomon spent seven years building the temple
in Jerusalem,
but thirteen years
building his palace
in Jerusalem. |
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Guidance and direction in the roles you have in life |
Cooperation |
Chief Justice |
Dominican Republic |
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| Reps & Sets is a daily Bible devotional for Christians from Generation Word Bible Teaching used each morning and evening. |
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