Answer: prayed to the God of heaven
Nehemiah served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes; he was an important personal servant. When the king noticed that Nehemiah was upset, and invited him to make a personal request, Nehemiah demonstrated a character and an attitude often portrayed in the Bible as admirable: he was humble enough not to rely on his own wit or wisdom, and he placed his trust in God. Nehemiah offered up what was doubtless a very quick prayer that God would guide him in answering the king. We see from Nehemiah 1:4 onwards that, after he heard the news of Jerusalem, Nehemiah spent much time in prayer and fasting. The Bible teaches that this is a way of drawing close to God, and the closer one is to God, the simpler communication with Him becomes.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Nehemiah
Answer: inspected the walls and gates
A good administrator, Nehemiah first set out to take the measure of the task ahead. Far from holding meetings with anyone, Nehemiah told no one what he was doing. It seems that he wanted to keep his intentions hidden, especially from the pagan tribes of the area, until he was ready to move the people to action.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Nehemiah
Answer: He saw how sad Nehemiah looked.
From Quiz: Nehemiah
Answer: Horonite, Ammonite and Arab
Sanballat is described as a 'Horonite': probably a native of Horonaim in Moab, or possibly hailing from Upper or Lower Beth-Horon, about 15 kilometres to the northwest of Jerusalem. Tobiah was an Ammonite, a member of that tribe descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew. The Ammonites are consistently portrayed in the Bible as enemies of the Israelites. Geshem is described as an 'Arab' (or 'Arabian') and is believed to have been a chieftain of one of the pagan tribes between Jerusalem and Egypt, astride the trade routes between Asia and Africa.
Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem sometime around 445 BC. The Greeks would not be a factor for another century yet: Alexander the Great reigned 336-323 BC. The Essenes only began to appear after 200 BC, and the only man ever referred to in the Bible as a 'Tishbite' was Elijah.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Nehemiah
Answer: That a man came to help the Israelites.
Nehemiah 2:10: When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobian the servant, the Ammonite heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Sanballat and Tobian didn't like the idea of people worrying about what was going on with the Israelites. Grieved, if we look at the New King James Version means "deeply disturbed". In the New Living Translation it says they were "very angry that someone had come who was interested in helping Israel."
From Quiz: Nehemiah
Answer: Will they complete it in a day?
'Rome wasn't built in a day' is one common form of the proverb, meaning that a great task cannot be accomplished in a short time. The origin of the 'Rome' proverb may well be connected to this text.
Tobiah jested that even the weight of a little desert fox (or jackal) would be enough to bring down the city wall, implying that their workmanship was of very poor quality. In fact, the work of the builders would endure for centuries. When Alexander arrived, the city fathers surrendered the city without a fight. Only during the Seleucid wars of the third century before Jesus Christ, did the walls suffer partial damage. The greater part of these walls built under Nehemiah's leadership would survive for nearly 500 years, until Jerusalem was once again completely destroyed, this time by the Romans in 70 AD.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Nehemiah
Answer: governor
The term means "governor." Nehemiah has been appointed by the king to this position and he diligently strives to meet or exceed all expectations of the king as well as God's people.
From Quiz: Not Now, Nehemiah! Go Away!
Answer: fight
Nehemiah 4:20 "In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God shall fight for us."
Israel has always been under hardships and wars. But the Israelites believe that they are God's chosen people, and therefore He'll always fight for them and protect them.
From Quiz: Nehemiah
Answer: belted to them
If Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem intended to intimidate the Jews, they failed. If they intended to warn the Jews to be on their guard, they succeeded admirably. Nehemiah, the governor, took the danger of an attack extremely seriously, and all of his people were to remain at a state of immediate readiness for war and to respond to a trumpet call at need. Every man of fighting age had a weapon constantly within immediate reach.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Nehemiah
