At our church, we face a similar task but on a smaller scale than the one Nehemiah faced. The Persian Empire rose to power, and they overthrew the Babylonians as the world superpower. Nehemiah is commissioned to return to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem that still laid in ruin. Even today, numerous sections of Hezekiahs wall remain visible. He doesnt play the visiting political official saying, You people are in a mess, & Ive come to help you. Rather he says, You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. It seems obvious that Nehemiah wanted to restore the walls to make the city habitable again. The Walls of Jerusalem (Hebrew: , Arabic: ) surround the Old City of Jerusalem (approx. The walls surrounding the Old City encompass an area of barely a third of a square mile (1 sq. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, Nehemiah went to the king Artaxerxes Longinus of Persia, and received a crucial for . When Nehemiah heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, he asked the king's permission to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:1-11. That provided an opportunity to look underneath and behind the tower. Although little has been found of the town itself, some finds suggest the presence of wealthy inhabitants, such as the rich elite graves that have been uncovered. [7], At the northwest corner of the Ottoman wall, archaeologists have discovered the meager remains of a large tower, c. 35x35 metres, probably first built in the 11th century during the Fatimid period, that fell to the Franks at the end of the First Crusade in 1099, and was apparently expanded by the Ayyubids after Saladin's reconquest of the city in 1187. Nehemiah then requested and obtained permission from Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city (Neh 2:5). Jerusalem was, certainly in the later Persian period, more than a sparsely inhabited settlement or just a temple city without any economic or administrative significance. Nehemiah Inspects the Walls 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers. Under his leadership and with a small Jewish population, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt to dimensions similar to Solomons day. [1] [2] The walls are visible on most old maps of Jerusalem over the last 1,500 years. When the Babylonians conquered and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, they also destroyed the walls and burned the gates with fire. Oxford 2014, 24-37. According to the Book of Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins until the fifth century B.C.E., when Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem as the provincial governor and completed the repairs of the walls that had begun under Ezra. One of Sultan Suleimans greatest projects was the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem. Many of us dont lack the information we need to make positive changes in our lives or to live more like Jesus, what we need is the proper motivation. R. Reich, `The Ancient Burial Ground in the Mamilla Neighborhood, Jerusalem, in H. Geva (ed. He can see that rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem is a restoration job on several levels. Nehemiah 1:3, "They said to me, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The temple was restored, and the temple gave the town its raison d'tre. The oldest settlement of Jerusalem was not located in what is now called the Old City, but on the hill southeast of it. The Persian pottery underneath the tower only gives a terminus post quem, a date after which something could have happened. But he is a man of vision. M. L. Steiner, `The Palace of David Reconsidered in the Light of Earlier Excavations, op http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/palace_2468.shtml (2009). M. L. Steiner, `One Hundred and Fifty Years of Excavating Jerusalem, in B. Wagemakers (ed. General Allenby famously entered the city through this gate when the British captured Jerusalem during the First World War in 1917. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. G. Barkay, Excavations at Ketef Hinnom in Jerusalem, in: In: H. Geva, (ed.). I went out by night by the Valley Gate past the Dragons Spring & to the Dung Gate, & I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down & its gates that had been destroyed by fire. In 19 BC, the master-builder, King Herod the Great, began his life's most ambitious building project. He sees not only the reality of what is, but what can be. supra. Looking out over the walls of Jerusalem. Hezekiah also built a water tunnel in order to keep the water from the Gihon Spring inside the city walls so the Assyrians couldnt cut off the water supply (2 Chron. A History of Excavations in the Holy Land Inspired by the Photographs and Accounts of Leo Boer. The walls contain 34 watchtowers and seven main gates open for traffic, with two minor gates reopened by archaeologists. We have all met people whose defenses have . Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem -These are the people who helped rebuild the wall and gates of Jerusalem:The high priest Eliashib and the other priests rebuilt Sheep Gate and hung its doors. Were literally rebuilding our oldest walls which were built over 150 years ago as well as the roof of the chapel and installing a new steeple. Was it a walled town with a central temple, the seat of the governor, a centre of administration, religion and economy? Moriah upon the threshing floor of Araunah. O. Lipschits, `Persian Period Finds from Jerusalem: Facts and Interpretations. The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 9 (2009), 2-30. God has provided what is needed to get the job done. BY THE WAY, THE l in my e-mail for linda is a small L, but, it looks like it is capital l. Just letting you know. How long did it take to rebuild the. Many of the places mentioned cannot be identified. It went as far as the royal cemetery, . What do we learn from Nehemiah about how to face the challenges in our lives? Like Churchill, Nehemiah begins by stating how bad the problem truly is, looking not only at the wall but at their vulnerability without it. O. Lipschits, Y. Gadot et al., `Palace and Village, Paradise and Oblivion: Unraveling the Riddles of Ramat Rael, Near Eastern Archaeology 74 (2011), 1-49. Nehemiah 2:11-20, The Man Who Rebuilt Jerusalem Not only nine gates are mentioned, but also other characteristic parts of the town such as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hanael, the Broad Wall, the Pool of Siloam, the Kings Garden, the steps going down from the City of David, the tombs of David, the artificial pool, the House of the Heroes and many more. By Margreet L. Steiner Next, we learn about Ezra's trip back to Jerusalem to beautify the temple. Perhaps it rather encompasses all the destroyed city gates of Jerusalem, including those around the western hill. The Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem by the end of the 5th B.C. The book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Bible is more than an account of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The walls were extensively renewed by the Empress Aelia Eudocia during her banishment to Jerusalem (443460). . Then they said, Let us start building! So they committed themselves to the common good. 16 Nehemiah son of Azbuk ruled half of the district of Beth-Zur, and he rebuilt the next section of the wall. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. He places this project in the context of strengthening the interests of the Persian empire vis a vis the growing threat from Greece and Egypt. This would be the largest area the city walls would encompass. The tower may thus have been built in the Persian period or (much) later. Eventually he returns through the Valley Gate. ), The Fire Signals of Lachish; Studies in the Archaeology and History of Israel in the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age and Persian Period in Honor of David Ussishkin, Winona Lake, Ind. Hezekiahs Broad Wall Expansion of the Western Hill. The walls surrounding the Old City encompass an area of barely a third of a square mile (1 sq. Other than the Tower of David, the city of Jerusalem would remain an open city until its conquest by the Ottoman empire in 1517. First, he describes himself as one of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 32:34). Was any town wall of the Persian period ever excavated? An inscription in Arabic from the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent states: Has decreed the construction of the wall he who has protected the home of Islam with his might and main and wiped out the tyranny of idols with his power and strength, he whom alone God has enabled to enslave the necks of kings in countries (far and wide) and deservedly acquire the throne of the Caliphate, the Sultan son of the Sultan son of the Sultan son of the Sultan, Suleyman. Only when Nehemiah knew all the facts did he make his final plans. It was a massive undertaking and measured around 2.5 miles (4 km.) ), Ancient Jerusalem Revealed, Jerusalem 1994, 85-106. It is home to nearly 40,000 people and hosts dozens of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish holy sites. A series by Phil & Kath Henry. These new settlers would consist of descendants of the original exiles, but also of non-Judeans, such as retired Persian soldiers. The walls of Jerusalem. In 586 BC the Babylonians left behind a town largely destroyed. The call to action is the third element of Nehemiahs speech & in it Nehemiahs confidence is contagious. Whether as individuals, families, a church, a nation, or globally difficulties must be faced fully & directly. The fortification wall was constructed in the late 8th century or early 7th BCE, Israel Antiquities Authority excavation co-director Dr. Joe Uziel, who is also the head of the IAA's Dead Sea. Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer. This would imply the construction of supply and service buildings, a palace for the governor and houses for the inhabitants. added to the walls of Jerusalem again with the construction of the Third Wall, which was completed shortly before the First Jewish Revolt, during which the walls were almost completely destroyed by the Romans. Hold up one of the paper bricks and explain the following: The wall of Jerusalem is about 40 feet high and 2.5 miles long! The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. In preparation for the expected Crusader siege of 1099, the walls were strengthened yet again but to little avail. Its about restoring a wall, rebuilding a sense of community, & constructing a sense of identity for the people. Families and professional groups take on the responsibility for repairing stretches of the wall, while gates are provided with attics, doors, bolts and bars, and towers are rebuilt. in length. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was important because it revealed God's blessing, served as a sign to Israel's enemies, and showed God was with His people. In April of 445 B.C., after a prayer period of four months, Nehemiah speaks with the king. Above the Gichon spring she dug a long trench from top to bottom in order to analyse all layers of habitation of the ancient city. In the Middle Bronze Age, a period also known in biblical terms as the era of the Patriarchs, a city named Jebus was built on the southeastern hill of Jerusalem, relatively small (50,000 square meters) but well fortified. [4] Also in the Amarna letters, it is called Beth-Shalem, the house of Shalem.[5]. There were lots of people who tried to stop them. It contains three elements: identification with the people, an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation, & a call to action. . 3 And they said to me, The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital, 2 one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 15201566), the city of Jerusalem regained its splendor and recovered from centuries of neglect. 1 Kings 9:24 Verse Concepts As soon as Pharaoh's daughter came up from the city of David to her house which Solomon had built for her, then he built the Millo. Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer. The emphasis is on the exiles and on the return to the old land after the Persians had conquered Babylon in 539 BC and included Judah into their empire. Having faith doesnt mean we ignore problems, that were blind to the facts, or that we are ignorant of what has taken place over time. The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. ), A. M. L. Steiner, `The City of David as a Palimpsest, in L. Niesioowski-Span and E. Pfoh (eds.). Did Jerusalem become a walled settlement in Persian times, or is that an unlikely notion? Hezekiahs new wall measured about 22 feet wide (7 m.) by 25 feet high (8 m.). After Jerusalem fell to the Umayyads in 638 C.E., the citys Byzantine walls saw major repairs, and large parts of the Tower of David and the walls around the Temple Mount were constructed. Nehemiah believed in the power of prayer & perseverance in solving problems. He returns to Jerusalem with a group of exiles and begins rebuilding the wall, meeting opposition along the way. ), Archaeology in the Land of `Tells and Ruins. Why so long to rebuild the wall? So it was about 22 years after returning to Jerusalem that they finally finished the temple. There was no animal with Nehemiah was a servant of God & a servant of Gods people. And so Nehemiah travels west to Jerusalem. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, & the rest that were to do the work. Others conclude from the archaeological finds (or rather, the dearth thereof) that Jerusalem in Persian times was a very small settlement, not including the western hill, impoverished, unwalled, insignificant. Nehemiah has a very difficult task to accomplish: rebuilding a ruined city with opposition all around & a frightened, discouraged population, fortunately Nehemiah knows how to lead in a crisis. We don't know that Jerusalem was a gubernatorial seat. Why did Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem? Why is a broken-down wall such a big deal? 4th March Saturday <br>Nehemiah. Often times our need for faith will increase when were truly aware of the facts of a situation or crisis we are facing. The walls of Jerusalem were once again destroyed during the Crusader conquest of the city in 1099. Why did Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Jerusalem? on The Man Who Rebuilt Jerusalem Nehemiah 2:11-20, https://brewsterbaptistchurch.org/audio/08032014.mp3. Unfortunately, the Bible texts remain vague on the exact location of these structures. (Courtesy Ancient Jerusalem Project). Charles Carter (1999) also sees no problem for the Persian authorities in allowing Jerusalem to restore its fortifications. God provided me with safe passage, timber, & the authority & permission to build. Excavations at the Summit of the City of David. Rebuilding The Walls Of Jerusalem Nehemiah 4:16-18 KJV Nehemiah Chapter 4 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. This meant building new defenses. 3 And they said to me, The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. Although I came to the conclusion that Kenyon was wrong and that the wall and the tower did not date to the Persian period, it is quite possible that a Persian wall was once built there, now hidden under the later Maccabean constructions. During the Second Temple period, especially during the Hasmonean period, the city walls were expanded and renovated, constituting what Josephus calls the First Wall. Although the Persian town walls have not been found, there are indications that they may be hidden under the later Maccabean fortifications. `The Borders and de Facto Size of Jerusalem in the Persian Period, in O. Lipschits and M. Oeming (eds. According to an Assyrian stele found in the ruins of the royal palace of Nineveh, Sennacherib conquered 46 cities in Judea prior to attempting to conquer Jerusalem. Very interesting. Were seeking to build our community and to impact many more lives as we add two new full-time pastors. How large was Nehemiahs Jerusalem and how did it function within the Persian empire? LOVE THE VIDEOS OR PHOTOS OF JERUSALEM or WHATEVER PHOTOS YOU MAY HAVE. D. Edelman, The Origins of the Second Temple: Persian Imperial Policy and the Rebuilding of Jerusalem, London 2005. In 54 bce, however, Crassus plundered the Temple treasury. An analysis of the pottery from the Persian period found during excavations in Jerusalem shows that there were several potteries that supplied the inhabitants with vessels, including Greek-style vases and thin-walled bowls, both luxury materials (Steiner 2011). Source: Chronological Reference Points,Middle East Insight, January-February 1999. Nehemiah taught us how to battle discouragement (Neh. These walls were built by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the sixteenth century, roughly following the course of the walls built by the Romans to encircle Jerusalem in the second century. Whether Jerusalem was a birah, a Persian fortress, or a provincial capital possibly fortified by or with the permission of the Persian authorities to safeguard their interests cannot be determined on the basis of current evidence. The work took some four years, between 1537 and 1541. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.". Today, they are revealed in their full height and splendor, after rubble accumulated over centuries was cleared away. (Photo Chamberi / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)). Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man! At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you offthinking, David cannot come in here. 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. The many Yehud stamp impressions indicate inclusion in an economic network, the exact nature of which still eludes us. But irrespective of whether those walls did or did not exist, in my opinion Jerusalem was not as desolate as is sometimes assumed, both before and after the arrival of Nehemiah. The entire city was destroyed in 587/86 BCE during the siege led by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Yet in 1219, the Ayyubids, fearing the Crusaders would regain the city, demolished the walls of Jerusalem to keep such a fortified position from falling into Crusader hands. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. In the darkest days of World War Two when Great Britain stood alone against the Nazis, Winston Churchill came into leadership as Prime Minister at arguably the lowest & most difficult time in his nations history. Many paint a dark situation, with only some 'people of the land' living in the collapsed houses and making sacrifices in the ruins of the temple. In the Late Hellenistic period that construction then was rebuilt or restored and the older wall was not visible anymore. What is the Dung . What he encounters is terrifying. The first one to announce that she had found part of the Persian city wall was the English archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon. Even if we accept it becoming a birta' at some point, a birta' is not necessarily the seat of a governor, only of a garrison commander. I take an intermediate position. The "gate" is a large, L-shaped open space. 2011). A. Faust, Judah in the Neo-Babylonian Period: The Archaeology of Desolation, Atlanta, Ga 2012. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer suffer disgrace. Nehemiah is one of them. So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:11-15 recounts how the prophet arrives in Jerusalem and immediately sets out in the night with some of his men to inspect the town walls. Not every section was completed, however, and many towers were left unfinished. We heard in Nehemiah 1 how Nehemiah inquired about the situation in Jerusalem (verses 2-3), empathized with those who were hurting (verse 4), humbled himself before God (verse 4) & prayed (verses 5-11) expressing adoration to God (v. 5), confessing his nations sin to the Lord (verses 6-7)), & petitioning God for help (verses 8-11). I have been to Jerusalem but did not walk the walls. Looking out over the walls of Jerusalem. Hezekiah's new wall measured about 22 feet wide (7 m.) by 25 feet high (8 m.). Submitted by Jason Silverman on Sun, 11/28/2021 - 12:20. In some places it is impossible to continue because of the amount of debris on the slope. `The Borders and de Facto Size of Jerusalem in the Persian Period, in O. Lipschits and M. Oeming (eds. After the Babylonian captivity and the Persian conquest of Babylonia, Cyrus II of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the Temple. Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied to build the house of the Lord, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 2006. Nehemiah is the kind of leader we need in our nation & in the world today. Many people thought this was impossible. ), M. L. Steiner, `One Hundred and Fifty Years of Excavating Jerusalem, in B. Wagemakers (ed. All in all, archaeological research has not found any actual Persian fortifications but at most indirect evidence for their construction. Nehemiah 3 is even more specific. C. E. Carter, The Emergence of Yehud in the Persian Period A Social and Demographic Study (JSOT Supplement Series 294), Sheffield 1999.