The words of Nehemiah:

While I was in the citadel of Susa, my brother came from Judah and 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.”

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

I was cupbearer to the king. When wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king.

The king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad?”

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 fathers 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, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Then the king asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me.

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WILLIAM BRASSEY HOLE
"Nehemiah Makes His Petition to Artaxerxes"

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"Nehemiah before the King and Queen"

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I went to Jerusalem. 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.

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GUSTAVE DORÉ
"Nehemiah Views the Ruins of Jerusalem's Walls"

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HAROLD COPPING
"Nehemiah's Midnight Survey"

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Then I said, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. We continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

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ADOLF HULT
"Nehemiah Rebuilding Jerusalem"

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JAMES DABNEY McCABE
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WILLIAM BRASSEY HOLE
"Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah"

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"Building the Wall of Jerusalem"

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"Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem"

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"Nehemiah Directing the Rebuilding of Jerusalem’s Walls"

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

So the wall was completed in fifty-two days.

All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

So Ezra the priest read it aloud. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

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GUSTAVE DORÉ
"Ezra Reads the Law to the People"