Nehemiah

The governor who led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and much of the city. He also restored the worship of God among the people. Nehemiah’s work began in 445 BC—more than one hundred years after Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Nehemiah was a descendant of people who had been taken as exiles from Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. Nehemiah asked the king to let him return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city. The king not only gave him permission but later appointed him governor of the area.