Nehemiah | Chapter Summaries + Study QuestionsSample

NEHEMIAH 6

NEHEMIAH RESISTS OPPOSITION + FINISHES THE CITY WALLS

Nehemiah’s enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, continue to oppose his work on the city wall. Despite their efforts to summon Nehemiah and harm him, Nehemiah stays focused on the work that God has called him to do. Nehemiah proclaims that he is doing a good work and will not come down!

Trying to stop the progress of the city walls, Nehemiah’s enemies spread lies about him and conspire against him. Nehemiah sees through their dishonesty and knows they are only attempting to scare and discourage him. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem hire a man named Shemaiah to act as a false prophet, instructing Nehemiah to go into hiding. Nehemiah knows that Shemaiah was not speaking under God’s authority and was not fooled by this trick.

After fifty-two days of labor, the wall is finished under Nehemiah’s leadership. All of the surrounding nations were humbled and acknowledged that God was involved in the building of the city walls.

STUDY QUESTIONS

In Nehemiah 6, how did Nehemiah respond to Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem’s schemes (Nehemiah 6:3, 6:12)?

Read Nehemiah 6:15–16. How did Jerusalem’s neighboring nations react to the finished city wall?