NEHEMIAH // Return ➙ Respond ➙ Restore

The Right Thing at the Right Time

Nehemiah 2:9-20
wk 3

Additional Bible Study Questions

Note: Community Group discussion questions are on the previous page.
These addtional Bible study questions (below) are optional, and intended as supplemental questions
for group or individual study. They carry an emphasis on learning connected to life application.

4. What “homework” or secret project did Nehemiah undertake before challenging the people to
rebuild the walls?

5. For the first time in the story we get into the pattern of Return, Respond & Restore. Here
Nehemiah is secretly (at night) assessing the needs of the city. We learn why he was so
secretive in vv. 12 & 16, that he avoided public attention for three days so he could meet with
an important official — the real “Mayor of Jerusalem” — GOD. He got alone with God, for
silence and solitude.
➤ How has your life been transformed through times alone with God, in silence and
solitude?
➤ What has God shown you in those times with Him?

6. Early in the story Nehemiah encounters some resistance through adversaries, in Sanballat 1
the Horonite and Tobiah 2 the Ammonite (vv. 10, 19-20).
➤ We learn in 1 Corinthians 16:9 that an open door for God’s work and the Gospel
often means adversaries will resist us. What was Nehemiah’s response? (v. 20).
What also should our response be? (see Colossians 4:3)
➤ Read Acts 5:27-39. How is this story of the disciples’ opposition from the Sanhedrin
similar to what Nehemiah experienced?

A simple outline for Nehemiah 2:9-20:

Nehemiah returned to his homeland (2:9-10), replenished resources (2:11-12), assessed
the needs (2:13-16), recruited colleagues (2:17), inspired confidence (2:18) and handled
opposition (2:19-20).

1Sanballat the Horonite is known from other sources to have been governor of Samaria at a later time, and
may be so already.
2Tobiah is a Jewish name, yet as an Ammonite he belongs to a people that was one of Israel's historic
enemies (2 Sam. 10:1–11). The term servant here may mean that he is an official, also from Samaria. These
Samarians apparently wanted to assert their authority in Judah.
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NEHEMIAH // Return ➙ Respond ➙ Restore

Nehemiah’s Journey
Home to Jerusalem
Susa, which was the major city of
the Persian Empire is today located
in Iran, just east of the Iraqi border.
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

A similar map (though

without route) can be
found on page 124 of
Rose’s Book of Bible
Charts, Maps & Timelines.

source: ESV Study Bible