Hanani's report in month of Chislen leads to the "going forth of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem" (Daniel 9:25) by Artaxerxes (that is to say, ASTYAGES) in his twentieth year.

  NEHEMIAH'S JOURNEY. He visits the Governors, and presents Credentials.

  NEHEMIAH'S NIGHT SURVEY OF RUINS.

  OPPOSITION THREATENED (Moab, Amon, and Ishmael) on charge of rebellion against the Suzerain King (that is, of Babylon) Nebuchadnezzar.

  NEHEMIAH'S ANSWER. Foundation work of Wall begun. Wall itself finished to half its height.

  NEHEMIAH'S COURSE. PRAYER AND WATCH.

  COMPLAINT OF JUDAH.  Used by Adversaries.

  WALL COMPLETED (second half) in fifty-two days.

  REFERENCE  TO HINDRANCE DURING THE BUILDING.

  CITY OPEN. PEOPLE FEW. HOUSES NOT BUILDED. (Compare Haggai 1:4)
(Interval of twenty-eight years.)

  RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL.
[N.B. Cyrus's specification for building the Temple recorded in 6:3-5, falls into its proper place here between 2:1 and 2.]

  Genealogies of those who Returned.

  Genealogies of those who Returned.

  THE ALTER OF BURNT OFFERING SET UP.

  "BUT THE FOUNDATION OF TEMPLE NOT YET LAID."

  SIX MONTHS' PREPARATION FOR THE BUILDING.

  SECOND YEAR OF RETURN. Second Month. TEMPLE FOUNDATION  LAID.

  FIFTEEN YEARS OF OPPOSITION.
  From second year of RETURN to second year of DARIUS HYSTASPIS.
[N.B. Chapters 4:1–6:22 are a retrospective reference to the WALL building of Nehemiah 2:20–6:15.]

  NEHEMIAH GOES BACK for twelve years (compare 13:6).

  Second Year of DARIUS HYSTASPIS.
Sixth Month: "This People say, 'The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.'" Haggai 1:2.

  COMMAND: "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and THIS HOUSE LIE WASTE?" Haggai 1:4. "GO UP . . . AND BUILD." Haggai 1:8.

  SIXTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day.
THE WORK BEGUN. Haggai 1:14-15.

  SEVENTH MONTH (7th day of Feast of Tabernacles). The word to Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:1-9).

  EIGHTH MONTH. The WORD to ZECHARIAH. Zechariah 1:1.

  NINTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day.
The WORD to the PRIESTS. Haggai 2:10-19.

  NINTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day.
The FINAL WORD to ZERUBBABEL. Haggai 2:20-23.

  ELEVENTH MONTH. Twenty-fourth Day. The WORD to ZECHARIAH. Zechariah 1:7.

  FOURTH YEAR OF DARIUS HYSTASPIS.
Ninth Month. Fourth Day. The WORD to ZECHARIAH. (N.B. His last date.) Zechariah 7:1.
 

  NEHEMIAH OBTAINS LEAVE OF ABSENCE, and RETURNS to be present at

  SIXTH YEAR, Twelfth Month of DARIUS HYSTASPIS. TEMPLE FINISHED.

  The Dedication of the Temple.
Twenty years after laying the Foundation, 3:8-13 (in 425): and five years and six months from beginning the House itself (Haggai 1:14, 15). Ending the "Seven Sevens" from "the going forth of the commandment" of Daniel 9:25 in 454 B.C.

  The Dedication of the Temple.

  EZRA "WENT UP FROM BABYLON" as TIRSHATHA. Appointed by the Persian Council of State. Four months' journey, from 1st of NISAN, and arrival at Jerusalem 1st of AB.

  Separation of the People. Report of the Princes re the NON-SEPARATION of the Princes, Priests and Levites.

  THE "ASSEMBLY" of all that were troubled at the words of the God of Israel.

  THE "ASSEMBLY," and reading of the Law of Jehovah, on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month. (The second day of the Feast of Tabernacles.)

  "Strange Wives" and the Covenant.

  "Strange Wives" and the Covenant.

  NAMES OF THE PRIESTS, Levites, and others who had married strange wives.

  NAMES OF THOSE WHO "SEALED" THE COVENANT.

  EZRA'S LATEST DATE: 1st of NISAN, in eighth year of DARIUS HYSTASPIS.

  LIST OF PRIESTS WHO RETURNED with ZERUBBABEL and EZRA for the Dedication of the WALL.