Monday, 5/20 - Nehemiah 1 & 2
Nehemiah’s Prayer
1 1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
2 1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 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, 3 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?”
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 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.”
6 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.
7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
1 1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
2 1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 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, 3 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?”
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 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.”
6 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.
7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
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Archive
2024
January
Monday, 1/22/24 - Overview Genesis 1-11 (Bible Project)Tuesday, 1/23/24 - Genesis 1-2:4aWednesday, 1/24/24 - Genesis 2:4-2:25Thursday, 1/25/24 - Genesis 3Friday, 1/26/24 - Overview: Genesis 12-50 (Bible Project)Monday, 1/29/24 - Genesis 12 & 15Tuesday, 1/30/24 - Genesis 21:1-21; 22:1-19Wednesday, 1/31/24 - Genesis 24; 25:19-34
February
Thursday, 2/1/24 - Genesis 27Friday, 2/2/24 - Genesis 28-29:14Monday, 2/5/24 - Genesis 29:15 - 30:24Tuesday, 2/6/24 - Genesis 32:3-33:17Wednesday, 2/7/24 - Genesis 37Thursday, 2/8/24 - Genesis 39-40Friday, 2/9/24 - Genesis 41Monday, 2/12/24 - Genesis 42 & 43Tuesday, 2/13/24 - Genesis 44 & 45Wednesday, 2/14/24 - Genesis 46; 50:15-26Thursday, 2/15/24 - Overview: Exodus 1-18 (Bible Project)Friday, 2/16/24 - Exodus 1 - 2Monday, 2/19/24 - Exodus 3 - 4Tuesday, 2/20/24 - Exodus 7 & 11Wednesday, 2/21/24 - Exodus 12 - 13:2, 17-22Thursday, 2/22/24 - Exodus 14Friday, 2/23/24 - Exodus 16 - 17:7, 18Monday, 2/26/24 - Overview: Exodus 19-40 (Bible Project)Tuesday, 2/27/24 - Exodus 19-20:21Wednesday, 2/28/24 - Exodus 32Thursday, 2/29/24 - Exodus 33 & 34
March
Friday, 3/1/24 - Overview: Leviticus (Bible Project)Monday, 3/4/24 - Leviticus 16Tuesday, 3/5/24 - Leviticus 25Wednesday, 3/6/24 - Overview: Numbers (Bible Project) & Numbers 6:22-27; 9:15-23Thursday, 3/7/24 - Numbers 11 & 12Friday, 3/8/24 - Numbers 13 & 14Monday, 3/11/24 - Overview: Deuteronomy (Bible Project)Tuesday, 3/12/24 - Deuteronomy 4:1-40Wednesday, 3/13/24 - Deuteronomy 6-7:11Thursday, 3/14/24 - Deuteronomy 18:15-22; 31:1-8; 34Friday, 3/15/24 - Overview: Joshua (Bible Project)Monday, 3/18/24 - Joshua 1 & 2Tuesday, 3/19/24 - Joshua 3; 5:13 - 6:27Wednesday, 3/20/24 - Joshua 24Thursday, 3/21/24 - Overview: Judges (Bible Project)Friday, 3/22/24 - Judges 2Monday, 3/25/24 - Judges 4Tuesday, 3/26/24 - Judges 6 & 7Wednesday, 3/27/24 - Judges 13 & 14Thursday, 3/28/24 - Judges 15 & 16Friday, 3/29/24 - Overview: Ruth (Bible Project)
April
Monday, 4/1/24 - Ruth 1 & 2Tuesday, 4/2/24 - Ruth 3 & 4Wednesday, 4/3/24 - Overview: 1 Samuel (Bible Project)Thursday, 4/4/24 - 1 Samuel 1 & 3Friday, 4/5/24 - 1 Samuel 8 & 9Monday, 4/8/24 - 1 Samuel 10Tuesday, 4/9/24 - 1 Samuel 13:1-15; 1 Samuel 15Wednesday, 4/10/24 - 1 Samuel 16Thursday, 4/11/24 - 1 Samuel 17Friday, 4/12/24 - 1 Samuel 18 & 19Monday, 4/15/24 - 1 Samuel 20Tuesday, 4/16/24 - 1 Samuel 24 & 25Wednesday, 4/17/24 - 1 Samuel 31Thursday, 4/18/24 - Overview: 2 Samuel (Bible Project)Friday, 4/19/24 - 2 Samuel 1:1 - 2:7Monday, 4/22/24 - 2 Samuel 5 & 7Tuesday, 4/23/24 - 2 Samuel 11 & 12Wednesday, 4/24/24 - 2 Samuel 15:1-31Thursday, 4/25/24 - 2 Samuel 18-19:8Friday, 4/26/24 - 2 Samuel 24Monday, 4/29/24 - Overview 1 & 2 Kings (Bible Project)Tuesday, 4/30/24 - 1 Kings 1:1-2:12
May
Wednesday, 5/1/24 - 1 Kings 3 & 10Thursday, 5/2/24 - 1 Kings 11Friday, 5/3/24 - 1 Kings 17 - 18:19Monday, 5/6/24 - 1 Kings 18:20-19:21Tuesday, 5/7/24 - 1 Kings 22Wednesday, 5/8/24 - 2 Kings 2 & 5:1-19Thursday, 5/9/24 - 2 Kings 6:1-23Friday, 5/10/24 - 2 Kings 17Monday, 5/13/24 - 2 Kings 22-23:30Tuesday, 5/14/24 - 2 Kings 25Wednesday, 5/15/24 - Overview: 1 & 2 Chronicles (Bible Project)Thursday, 5/16/24 - Overview: Ezra-Nehemiah (Bible Project)Friday, 5/17/24 - Ezra 1Monday, 5/20 - Nehemiah 1 & 2Tuesday, 5/21/24 - Overview: Esther (Bible Project)Wednesday, 5/22/24 - Esther 1 & 2Thursday, 5/23/24 - Esther 3 & 4Friday, 5/24/24 - Overview: Job (Bible Project)Monday, 5/27/24 - Job 1-3Tuesday, 5/28/24 - Job 15-17Wednesday, 5/29/24 - Job 38Thursday, 5/30/24 - Job 42Friday, 5/31/24 - Overview: Psalms (Bible Project)