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A call to arise and build

Nehemiah encourages people to rebuild the walls.
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi
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Now that the King had given permission for Nehemiah to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, a long journey of over 700 miles (1000 km) lay ahead. <br/>The King was sending some of his soldiers and army officers on horseback to protect them and Nehemiah had royal letters to show the governors of the provinces on the route ahead allowing them to pass through. It was a journey that would take three months. – Slide 1
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Finally, in the distance they could see the ruined walls of the city of Jerusalem from which their great-grandparents has been taken away as captives. <br/>When Nehemiah talked to the local Jews, they were very discouraged but Nehemiah did not tell them why he had come to Jerusalem. He wanted to see for himself the work that lay ahead. – Slide 2
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However, there were two local rulers who were angry to see Nehemiah arrive. They were Sanballot, the governor of Samaria, and Tobiah the governor of Ammon. Neither of them wanted Jerusalem to have strong walls and the Jews to have a stronghold in the area. – Slide 3
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After three days in Jerusalem, one night Nehemiah and a few friends set out to view the ruined walls of Jerusalem and assess the damage. It was a sad sight and there were sections of broken wall where Nehemiah had to get off the mount he was riding as there was no way through. They started at the Valley gate and worked their way around the wall. All the time Nehemiah was planning how the work could be done. – Slide 4
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The next day Nehemiah called the people together and announced, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.' <br/>He encouraged them by explaining how the Lord had helped him get the permission of the King of Persia to rebuild. Also, that the King had provided the wood they needed from his forests. <br/>The people all replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’<br/>When Sanballot, Tobiah and their friend Geshem, heard the work had began, they mocked the Jews and asked, 'Are you going to rebel against the King of Persia?'<br/>Nehemiah responded, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We are His servants will start rebuilding. As for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ – Slide 5
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