1:1–7:73a Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and successfully leads a 52 day “rebuilding of the wall” project (cf. 6:15). 1:1–2:20 This section details how Nehemiah became the governor of Judah (cf. 5:14; 8:9; 10:1; 12:26). 1:1 The words of Nehemiah. The personal records of this famous royal cupbearer, whose name means “Jehovah comforts,” (cf. 3:16; 7:7; 8:9; 10:1; 12:26, 47) contribute greatly to this book. Unlike Esther and Mordecai, named after Mesopotamian deities Ishtar and Marduk, Nehemiah was given