Reading for December 5th

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 fromthe imperial court, it would be convenient for him to carry vital dispatches as well as offical declarations of his office. The king had sent officers of the army and calvalry with me highlights both the military nature of Nehemiah's comminssion and the importance the imperial court placed on his success. In verse 10: Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite offical: 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-honron, two Israelite cities located some 12 miles north of Jerusalem (2 Chr 8.5) and controlling a strategic pass. Tobiah is a Hebrew name; his exact role is less certain. The Ammonite offical is perhaps a reference to his region of administrative responsiblity. 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 4.7, apparently a junior offical inthe regional administration. As an Ammonite (if this is a reference to family orgin), Tobiah would be excluded fromthe "assembly" of Israel (Deut 23.3-6). It displeased them: Perhaps because of the new perfence the imperial court is showing to Jerusalem, which will bring new revenues and pestige 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, ahd it been obeserved, might have raised objections that could be communicated to the king and cause a 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 walls, which streched southwestward until they turned an went back north above the Kidron. Comments or Questions..