Nehemiah 2:16
Arabic Bible ERV 2009
What Does This Mean?
Nehemiah secretly inspected the walls of Jerusalem without telling anyone. He wanted to assess the damage before sharing his plans to rebuild the walls. This verse shows Nehemiah's careful planning and his desire to avoid unnecessary worry or opposition.
Explained for Children
Imagine you wanted to build a big sandcastle but first you needed to check if there were any holes or weak spots. Nehemiah did the same thing but with the big walls of a city. He wanted to fix the walls, but he didn't want to worry or confuse anyone by telling them about his plans just yet.
Historical Background
Nehemiah 2 was written by Nehemiah, a Persian official, around 445 B.C. It details his mission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. The audience was likely the Jews in Jerusalem, and the cultural setting was post-exilic, where the community was rebuilding and reestablishing itself.
Living It Out Today
Imagine planning a surprise party for a friend. You'd keep it a secret to avoid spoiling the surprise. Similarly, Nehemiah kept his plans to rebuild Jerusalem's walls a secret to avoid unnecessary worry or opposition. This teaches us the value of careful planning and the importance of timing in sharing our plans.