Zone1 Nehemiah Returns

[Quantrill]

Nehemiah returns to the promised land. I often hear that his was the third return of the captivity, the remnant, back to the land. But, as of yet it appears to me he returned alone. He returned only 12 years after the reform under Ezra and the company of leaders. Only 12 years after all gave their word to separate from foreigners and especially from foreign wives they had taken. They offered a ram and got a divorce. All is well...isn't it?

We don't know much about Nehemiah. Was he of the Levitical or priestly line? We don't know. But, when it comes to turning away from God, it doesn't seem to matter. (Ezra 9:2) (Ezra 10:18) So it shouldn't matter that one who is not a priest or Levite can be used of God in a powerful way. When leaders and Levites and priests of God, turn away, they turn the whole nation. And is much more serious to God.

Nehemiah was a Jew who served the Persian king in the palace. (Neh. 1:1) He was the kings cupbearer. (Neh. 1:11) Which means he tasted the wine before given to the king to make sure it wasn't poisoned. He did not return under Zerubbabel or Ezra. I suppose that means he was not part of the 'remnant'. But he was certainly a strong believer and follower of his God.

Which shows that just because Jews did not return to the land, doesn't mean they were not followers and believers in their God. They should have returned but didn't. And I doubt the king would have let Nehemiah return as his was an important position which involved much trust.

Nehmiah's brother, Hanani, and some other Jews came from Judah, meaning they had went with the remnant back to the land. Nehemiah met with them and asked about the remnant, calling them 'those that escaped'. (Neh. 1:2) And they said: (Neh. 1:3) "...The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire."

Quantrill

 

[SaxonJackson]

What I've gleaned from the histories of Ezra & Nehemiah is that the men of Judah & Benjamin who returned to rebuild Jerusalem were married to non-Israelitish women and had mixed children. Many of these children became the future leaders of the regional peoples.

Later, when Jesus confronted the future religious leaders (the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the scribes), he called them "children of your father the devil." By then, the bloodline had been tainted (adulterated). "Though shalt not commit adultery."

John 8:44, " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

The Pharisees considered themselves to be "Jews" but Christ considered them to be something else.

Revelation 2:9, "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 3:9, "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.