Reading for July 7th

 Read Nehemiah 2.9-16. In 2.9-16: Nehemiah's coming to Jerusalem. As with the account of Ezra, there are few details of the lengthy journey from Persia to Jerusalem. The focus is on significant opposition to Nehemiah's task and his consequent need to be cautious in his planning. In verse 9: Gave them the king's letters: Since Nehemiah came directly from the imperial court, it would be convenient for him to carry vital dispatches as well as official declarations of his office. The king had sent officers of the army and cavalry with me highlights both the military nature of Nehemiah's commission and the importance the imperial court placed on his success. In verse 10: Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official: Sanballat is a Babylonian name and is known from Aramaic documents of the Persian period to have been the name of the governor of the Persian district of Samaria. Horonite probably means his family was from beth-horon, two israelite cities located some 12 miles north of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 8.5) and controlling a strategic pass. Tobiah is a Hebrew name, his exact role is less certain. The Ammonite official is perhaps a reference to his region of Administrative responsibility. Some have linked him to a powerful family of the same name of a later period that had significant interests in the Transjordan. Others have suggested he is the same as the Tabeel of Ezra, apparently a junior official  in the regional administration. As a Ammonite (if this is a reference to family of origin), Tobiah would be excluded from the "assembly" of Israel (Deut 23.3-6). It displeased them: Perhaps because the new preference the imperial court is showing to Jerusalem, which will bring new revenues and prestige to the city. In verse 11: The account of the rest of the three days parallels Ezra's account (Ezra 8.32). In verse 13: I went out by night by the Valley Gate: Nehemiah's inspection of the city's fortifications that could be communicated to the king and cause delay in the project. His inspection tour seems to follow the area known as the "City of David," a spur of land that lies along the western edge of the Kidron valley south of the temple area. Nehemiah moves from the northwest corner of this region along the city's walls, which stretched southeastward along the city wall, which stretched southeastward until they turned and went back north above the Kidron. Comments or Questions..