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Glam Monitor

Why was Jerusalem destroyed in Nehemiah?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on May 24, 2026

He was so upset because he cared for the people, and Jerusalem was the holy city of the Jewish people. With the walls being destroyed, this meant that the city of Jerusalem was wide open to intruders, and the people were left defenseless without the wall for protection.

Who destroyed Jerusalem before Nehemiah?

According to 2 Kings 25:10, “The entire Chaldean [Babylonian] force that was with the chief of the guard tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side” (The Jewish Publication Society Tanakh).

Why has Jerusalem been destroyed?

The Jewish Amoraim attributed the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem as punishment from God for the "baseless" hatred that pervaded Jewish society at the time. Many Jews in despair are thought to have abandoned Judaism for some version of paganism, many others sided with the growing Christian sect within Judaism.

What is the main message of the book of Nehemiah?

One of the powerful messages of Nehemiah is how much you can accomplish when you align yourself with the will and plan of God. Nehemiah and his followers do what seems to be the impossible because they are doing what God has called them to do. You don't have to rebuild a wall to do the will of God.

How was Jerusalem destroyed in the Bible?

The city fell after a siege, which lasted either eighteen or thirty months. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign (2 Kings 25:2; Jeremiah 39:2), Nebuchadnezzar broke through Jerusalem's walls, conquering the city.

34 related questions found

Why was Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem?

In the ninth year of Zedekiah's rule a Babylonian army laid siege to Jerusalem after he had conspired to revolt against the Babylonians with Egypt's help.

How many times has Jerusalem been destroyed?

This is a timeline of major events in the History of Jerusalem; a city that had been fought over sixteen times in its history. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.

Why did Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Jerusalem?

He gathered his people together, he equipped them, and he led them in rebuilding the city walls of Jerusalem. After the wall was built, Nehemiah ensured that the people were read God's Law, and they understood it. He wanted them to know what standards he and they would live by.

What does the wall of Jerusalem symbolize?

A wall built for Gods Glory

"'Jerusalem's wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down. ' When I heard these things, I sat down and wept" (Nehemiah 1:3-4). Eternal Wall represents the strength of God. It will represent the belief that He is alive, listening and able to respond.

Did Nehemiah rebuild the temple?

Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. He was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia (465–424 BC). The name is pronounced /ˌniːəˈmaɪə/ or /ˌniːhəˈmaɪə/ in English.

When Jerusalem was destroyed?

"Jerusalem is known for two major destructions in its early history. One was in 586 B.C.E., when the Babylonians destroyed the city. The other was in the year 70 C.E., when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem," Uziel says.

Why is the destruction of the Second Temple important?

This destruction and the deportations of Jews to Babylonia in 586 and 582 were seen as fulfillments of prophecy and, therefore, strengthened Judaic religious beliefs and awakened the hope for the reestablishment of the independent Jewish state.

Is Nehemiah's wall still standing?

The remnants of a wall from the time of the prophet Nehemiah have been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's ancient City of David, strengthening recent claims that King David's palace has been found at the site, an Israeli archeologist said Wednesday.

What bad guy moves into the temple and was ran out by Nehemiah?

Nehemiah takes great pleasure in evicting Tobiah from the Temple. Nehemiah, a marvelous leader, also roots out Jewish corruption, collects tithes that have been mishandled, improves oversight of the Levites (who run the Temple), and stops all the illegal Sabbath trading.

Why is Jerusalem important to Christians?

For Christians, Jerusalem is also the place where Jesus preached, died and was resurrected. Many also see the city as central to an imminent Second Coming of Jesus. Jerusalem is now a major pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world.

What is the significance of the wall in Nehemiah?

The walls were a protection, but they were also an important physical symbol of the establishment of the Jews as a people. The holy city became a unifying force as families were chosen by lot to come live in it (see Nehemiah 11:1–2).

Who destroyed the wall that Nehemiah rebuilt?

The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The walls were still in ruin 140 years later when Nehemiah came to Jerusalem. Upon hearing that the wall of Jerusalem was down and destroyed, along with the gates being burned down, Nehemiah cried.

Why is Nehemiah important?

Nehemiah, also spelled Nehemias, (flourished 5th century bc), Jewish leader who supervised the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the mid-5th century bc after his release from captivity by the Persian king Artaxerxes I. He also instituted extensive moral and liturgical reforms in rededicating the Jews to Yahweh.

Does Jerusalem belong to Israel?

Jerusalem, Hebrew Yerushalayim, Arabic Bayt al-Muqaddas or Al-Quds, ancient city of the Middle East that since 1967 has been wholly under the rule of the State of Israel.

Is there a Temple in Jerusalem now?

Today the Temple Mount, a walled compound within the Old City of Jerusalem, is the site of two magnificent structures: the Dome of the Rock to the north and the Al-Aqsa Mosque to the south. In the southwest stands the Western Wall—a remnant of the Second Temple and the holiest site in Judaism.

How long did it take Nehemiah to build the wall of Jerusalem?

God instructed Nehemiah to build a wall around Jerusalem to protect its citizens from enemy attack. You see, God is NOT against building walls! And the Old Testament book of Nehemiah records how Nehemiah completed that massive project in record time — just 52 days.

What is the wall in Jerusalem called?

Western Wall, Hebrew Ha-Kotel Ha-Maʿaravi, also called Wailing Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, a place of prayer and pilgrimage sacred to the Jewish people.

Is the Second Temple still standing?

Both temples were destroyed, and the main remnant is the outer western wall of the Second Temple courtyard, where people flock from all over the world to pray (known as the Wailing Wall, the Kotel, or the Western Wall). According to Jewish traditions, both temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av on the Jewish calendar.

When the Second Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed?

The Jews led a revolt and occupied Jerusalem in 66 CE initiating the first Roman-Jewish war. In 70 CE the Romans reclaimed Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple with only a portion of the western wall remaining (though recent archeological discoveries date portions of the wall to later periods).

What happened after the Second Temple was destroyed?

Developing over a period of five centuries (until c.AD 500), rabbinic Judaism completed the process already underway, which saw the replacement of the Temple by the synagogue (the Second Temple was destroyed in AD 70), of the priest by the rabbi, and of the sacrificial ceremony by the prayer service and study.