Nehemiah 7: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Nehemiah 7 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The wall is built, and Nehemiah appoints leaders to oversee Jerusalem. He chooses his brother Hanani and Hananiah, a faithful man, to lead. The gates must not be opened until it is hot, and guards are assigned to keep watch (vv.

Key verse

“My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:”
Nehemiah 7:5 (WEB)

Outline

Nehemiah 7:1–3 Appointment of Leaders and Guards
Nehemiah 7:4–5 City's Condition and God's Direction
Nehemiah 7:6–7 Genealogy of Returning Exiles
Nehemiah 7:8–73 Detailed Genealogical Listings and Contributions

Discussion questions

In v2, who does Nehemiah appoint to be in charge of Jerusalem?
What instruction does Nehemiah give regarding the gates in v3?
In v5, what does Nehemiah mean by 'My God put into my heart'?
In v64, why are some deemed disqualified from the priesthood?
When have you felt called to gather others, as Nehemiah does in v5?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Nehemiah 7: Ezra 2, Jeremiah 30, 1 Chronicles 9.

Before next time: read Nehemiah 8.