NEHEMIAH THE BOOK OF. A

canonical book of the Old Testament. Nehemiah was born at Babylon during the captivity, and succeeded Ezra in the government of Judah and Jerusalem; whither he came with a commi ion from Artaxerxes Long i man us, authorizing him to repair and fortify the city in the same manner as it was before its destruction by the Babylonians. Nehemiah was a Jew, and was promoted to the office of cup-bearer to the Persian king; and the opportunities he had of being daily in the king’s presence, together with the favour of Esther the queen, procured him the privileges he obtained for building the city, and the settlement of his country. When he came to Jerusalem, he finished the rebuilding of the walls in fifty-two days, and dedicated the gates of the city with great solemnity. Then he reformed some abuses, which had crept in among his countrymen, particularly the extortion of the usurers, by which the poor were so oppre ed, as to be forced to sell their lands and children to support themselves and their families. Then he returned to Persia, and came back again with a new commi ion, by virtue of which he regulated everything relating both to the state and religion of the Jews. The history of these transactions is the subject matter of this Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah died at Jerusalem, having governed the people of Judah for about thirty years.