THE TEMPLE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE(959 BC)? DESTROYED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR(586 BC)? ZERUBBABEL’S TEMPLE RECONSTRUCTION UNDER CYRUS(536 BC)? BUILDING CEASES UNDER ARTAXERXES(17 YEARS)? BUILDING CONTINUES UNDER DARIUS (519 BC)? TEMPLE COMPLETED UNDER DARIUS(516 BC)? ( BC)? HEROD’S TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN(20 BC)? COMPLETED 46 YEARS (JOHN 2:20)(64 AD)?

PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NEBUCHADNEZZAR - DESTROYED JERUSALEM(586 BC)? ARTAXERXES - KING OF PERSIA BC? LONGIMANUS- SON OF XERXES NEHEMIAH - COMFORTED OF YAHWEH SON OF HACHALIAH - BROTHER OF HANANI BC? ADVERSARIES OF NEHEMIAH SANBALLAT THE HORONITE - GOVERNOR OF SAMARIA TOBIAH THE AMMONITE - JOINT GOVERNOR WITH SANBALLAT GESHEM THE ARAB - CHIEF OF THE ARABS IN SAMARIA ELIASHIB THE HIGH PRIEST

OUTLINE NEHEMIAH CHAPTER FOUR SANBALLAT AND TOBIAH MOCK THE JEWS AND TRY TO PREVENT THE COMPLETING OF THE WALL.V. 1-3 NEHEMIAH PRAYS AGAINST HIS ENEMIES THE PEOPLE COMPLETE ONE-HALF OF THE WALL.V. 4-6 ARABIANS, AMMONITES AND ASHDODITES COME TO FIGHT AGAINST THE JEWS.V. 7-8 JEWS COMMEND THEMSELVES TO GOD; AND ARE DETERMINED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES.V THEY FORM TWO BANDS: ONE-HALF WORKING; ONE-HALF ARMED TO FIGHT THEIR ENEMIES. V NEHEMIAH IS CAUTIOUS TO PREVENT ANY SURPRISE; THEY ALL LABOR WITH GREAT FERVOR IN THE WORK. V

READ:NEHEMIAH 4:1-3 1So it happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2He spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish-- stones that are burned?“ 3Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall."

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:1-3 1So it happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. HOW DID SANBALLAT REACT TO THE REBUILDING OF THE WALL?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:1-3 2He spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish-- stones that are burned?“ WHAT DID HE SAY TO THE SAMARITANS? COULD THEY RECLAIM STONES FROM THE RUBBLE?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:1-3 3Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall." WHAT DID TOBIAH SAY? WERE FOXES COMMON TO JERUSALEM? READ:LAMENTATIONS 5: Mount Zion is desolate with foxes walking about it. (NKJ) READ:SONG OF SOLOMON 2:15 15Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes….(NKJ)

READ:NEHEMIAH 4:4-6 4Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. 6So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:4-6 4Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. HOW DID NEHEMIAH RESPOND TO THEIR RIDICULE? WHAT DOES HE ASK GOD TO DO?WHY? HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO RIDICULE? READ: MATTHEW 5:43-45

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:4-6 HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO RIDICULE? READ:MATTHEW 5: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45"that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.(NKJ)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:4-6 6So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. HOW DID THIS EFFECT THEIR WORK? WHAT WERE THEY ABLE TO ACOMPLISH? WHY?

READ:NEHEMIAH 4:7-9 7Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8And all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:7-9 7Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8And all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. HOW DID THEIR ENEMIES RESPOND TO THEIR WORK? WHAT DID THEY CONSPIRE TO DO?WHY?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:7-9 9Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. WHAT DID THE JEWS DO? WAS IS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO SET A WATCH? ARE THERE TIMES WHEN WE SHOULD PRAY? AND THEN DO WHAT WE CAN DO?

READ:NEHEMIAH 4: Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall." 11And our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease." 12So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us."

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall." WHY WAS JUDAH COMPLAINING? WAS HE TIRED?WAS HE DISCOURAGED? WERE THEY NOT ABLE TO BUILD THE WALL? READ:GALATIANS 6:9 9Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.(KJV)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: And our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease." 12So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.“ WHAT DID THEIR ADVERSARIES SAY? WHO WERE ‘THE JEWS WHO DWELT NEAR THEM’? WHAT IS ‘THEY TOLD US TEN TIMES’? REPEATEDLY? WHAT DID THEY SAY?WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

READ:NEHEMIAH 4: Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." 15It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. HOW DID NEHEMIAH RESPOND TO THEIR THREATS? WHY SET THEM ‘ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES’? FAMILIES WHO PRAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." WHO IS NEHEMIAH SPEAKING TO? WHY DID HE TELL THEM ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID’? WHO DID HE TELL THEM TO ‘REMEMBER’? WHY DID HE TELL THEM ‘FIGHT’?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:13-15 ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID’ - ‘BE STRONG’ READ:JOSHUA 10:25 25Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.“(NKJ) READ:2 CHRONICLES 15:7 7"But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!“(NKJ)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:13-15 ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID’ - ‘BE STRONG’ READ:ISAIAH 35:4 4Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.“(NKJ) READ:HAGGAI 2:4 4'Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the LORD of hosts.(NKJ)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:13-15 ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID’ - ‘BE STRONG’ READ:1 CORINTHIANS 16:13 13Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.(NKJ) READ:EPHESIANS 6:10 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.(NKJ)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. WHAT WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE JEWS? WHAT HAD GOD DONE CONCERNING THEIR PLOT? HOW DID THE JEWS RESPOND TO THIS?

READ:NEHEMIAH 4: So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. WHAT WAS THEIR PLAN FROM THAT TIME ON? WERE THEY WILLING TO WORK? WERE THEY WILLING TO FIGHT? WHAT DID ‘THE LEADERS’ DO?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. WERE THEY PREPARED TO ‘WORK’ AND ‘FIGHT’? WHO WAS BESIDE NEHEMIAH?WHY?

READ:NEHEMIAH 4: Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. 20"Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.“ 21So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. 20"Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.“ WHAT DID NEHEMIAH SAY ABOUT THE WORK? WHY WAS IT CONSIDERED DANGEROUS? WHEN WERE THEY TO ‘RALLY TOGETHER’? WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THEM?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4:19-21 WHO WILL BLOW THE TRUMPET?WHY? READ:EZEKIEL 33:2-5 2"Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: 'When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3‘When he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4‘Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5'He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.(NKJ)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. HOW DID THEY CONTINUE TO LABOR? HOW LONG DID THEY WORK?

READ:NEHEMIAH 4: At the same time I also said to the people, "Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day." 23So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.(NKJ)

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: At the same time I also said to the people, "Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day." WHY DID HE TELL THEM TO ‘STAY IN JERUSALEM’? WHERE WOULD THEY NORMALLY HAVE GONE? HOME? WHAT WOULD THEY DO ‘BY NIGHT’? WHAT WOULD THEY DO ‘BY DAY’?

QUESTIONS:NEHEMIAH 4: So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.(NKJ) WHAT DID THEY ‘NOT DO’? WHY DID THEY NOT TAKE OFF THEIR CLOTHES? WHAT WAS THE ‘EXCEPTION’?