NEEMIA (Heb. Nēhemjāh, Septuagint Νεμία[ς], Vulg. Nehemias). – Restorer of Jerusalem (5th century B.C.) after the Exile; he was the son of Helchiah (Neh. 1:1).
His activity is recounted in autobiographical memoirs that became part of the books of Esdra (v.) and N., and partially overlaps with that of Esdra, in a chronological relationship debated by scholars. The priority of N. over Esdra (v. ARTASERSE) is highly probable.
N. was a Jew living at the court of Artaxerxes I of Persia, holding the office of the king’s cupbearer: he was certainly a layman, perhaps a eunuch. Informed (at the end of 445 B.C.) by his brother Hanani of the obstacles hindering the full resumption of Jerusalem’s religious and civic life, he obtained from the king permission to go there in person, with the office of governor (pehāh) of the city and broad powers. The restoration of Jerusalem’s life was being obstructed by the interests of outsiders, namely Sanaballat (Heb. Sanē-bhallāt, Akkad. Sin-uballit), Tobiah (Tōbhijāh) and Gosem (Heb. Gelem), petty lords and marauders based in places toward the Arabian desert, who lorded it over the city. The first measure to be taken against them was to be the reconstruction of the walls, which they systematically impeded. With remarkable energy and diplomatic tact, amid resurgent opposition and traps laid to capture him, N. rallied the strength of the citizens and, within three months of his arrival, rebuilt or repaired the protective wall (gādhēr) surrounding the city. From then on, a guard service at the gates secured the inhabitants’ safety. More extensive was the work devoted to demographic and moral reconstruction: repopulation, the abandonment of mixed marriages, and economic improvements for the common people. The reforms received official and solemn sanction in a new promulgation of the Mosaic law, with a renewal of the “covenant,” carried out on the occasion of a Feast of Booths (it is not known in which year), with the collaboration of Esdra (v.) the Scribe, who had come expressly from Babylon. N. saw to the collection of the biblical books (cf. II Mach. 2:13). About 12 years after his arrival, the great reformer returned to the court.
Some time later, having received alarming reports concerning the stability of his work, because of failures in good intentions and abuses, he returned to Jerusalem, where he undertook new reforms. But nothing is known of this second mission, or of the end of N.’s life, since the biblical account abruptly breaks off with the character’s invocation: “Remember me, O my God, for good” (Neh. 13:21). Two other influential Jews of the same period were named N. (ibid. 3:16; 7:7).