Delivering the mail in Persia
Delivering the mail in Persia. The Persian Empire may have had the world’s first postal service. Carriers rode on horseback to various stations throughout the… Read More »Delivering the mail in Persia
Articles
The invisible God
The invisible God. The book of Esther does not directly mention God, but his providential hand was clearly at work, as remains the case today… Read More »The invisible God
Who is King Ahasuerus?
Who is King Ahasuerus? The Persian king Ahasuerus is also known as Xerxes I. It was his army that fought against the Greek Spartans in… Read More »Who is King Ahasuerus?
Absolute authority
Absolute authority. Once the king wrote a law, it could not be overturned (1:19–20). But it could be modified by an additional law (8:8–9:1).
Persian drinking vessels
Persian drinking vessels. The Persians were famous for making elaborate, expensive drinking cups and vessels. In fact, no two were alike. When the Greeks crushed… Read More »Persian drinking vessels
Household furniture
Tobiah was not a priest, so moving his household furniture into the temple desecrated the area (13:5, 7). His presence in the temple also meant… Read More »Household furniture
Dedications
Dedications were ceremonies performed to consecrate something or someone for service to the Lord.
Why did the small towns of Judah send people to live in Jerusalem?
Why did the small towns of Judah send people to live in Jerusalem? In Nehemiah’s time, Jerusalem was only one-fourth the size it had been… Read More »Why did the small towns of Judah send people to live in Jerusalem?
Seals
Seals in the ancient Near East (e.g., 10:1) were stamps pressed into soft wax on documents that demonstrated ownership or authorship.
Word pictures for worship and teaching
Word pictures for worship and teaching. Religious images were strictly forbidden under the Mosaic law, but Israel’s leaders often used vivid imagery in their story-telling… Read More »Word pictures for worship and teaching
The Feast of Booths
The Feast of Booths (8:2) marked the end of the agricultural year. It was a time to celebrate God’s provision and to ask his blessing… Read More »The Feast of Booths
Can Nehemiah’s wall be seen today?
Can Nehemiah’s wall be seen today? In the 2,500 years since Nehemiah’s day, Jerusalem has been rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again. This has made evidence… Read More »Can Nehemiah’s wall be seen today?