Foreword -- 1. Introduction - Spinoza and the Attempt to Isolate Nehemiah's First-Person Account -- I. In Susa - 1:1-11 Introduction -- 2. Nehemiah's First Prayer - 1:5-1 la -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Diachronic Analysis -- 2.3 The Function of the Prayer -- 2.4 Conclusions -- 3. The Origins of Jerusalem's Ruins -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Examination of Neh 1:1-4 -- 3.3 Neh 1-2 and the Artaxerxes-Correspondence -- 3.4 Conclusions -- 4. A Prologue to the Amplified Account - 1:1b-4 -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 The Tensions in Neh 1:1-2:11 -- 4.3 The Reasons for the Composition of 1:1b-4 -- 4.4 Conclusions -- II. From Susa to Jerusalem -- Introduction -- 5. Artaxerxes' Permission to Build - 2:1-11a -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 The Composition of the Account -- 5.3 The Ramifications of the Analysis for an Historical Reconstruction -- 5.4 Conclusions -- 6. The Consolidation of the Builders - 2:11b-4:17 -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Nehemiah's "Night Ride" - 2:11b-15 -- 6.3 The Commencement and Completion of the Wall - 2:16b-3:38 -- 6.4 Conclusions -- 7. The Intimidation of the Builder - 6:1-19 -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 The Unity of the Chapter -- 7.3 The Heading - V. 1 -- 7.4 Nehemiah's Correspondence with Sanballat and Geshem -- 7.5 The Notice of Completion (VV. 15-16) in the Context of VV. 10-19 -- 7.6 Conclusions -- 8. The Socioeconomic Reforms - 5:1-19 -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Comparison of the Reform Accounts in Neh 5 and 13 -- 8.3 Nehemiah as an Ideal Leader - 5:14-19 -- 8.4 Nehemiah's Call for a Cancellation of Debts: VV. 1-13 and 19 -- 8.5 Conclusions -- III. Additional Reforms during the Work on the Wall - 13:4-31 -- Introduction -- 9. The Cultic Reforms - 13:4-14 -- 9.1. Introduction -- 9.2 The Eliashib-Tobiah Affair - 13:4-9 -- 9.3 The Reinstallation of the Levites and Singers - 13:10-14 -- 9.4. Conclusions.

Excursus I: The Composition of Neh 10:1-40 -- 10. The Sabbath-Reforms - 13:15-22 -- 10.1. Introduction -- 10.2. Synchronic Analysis -- 10.3. Diachronic Analysis -- 10.4 Conclusions -- 11. The Marriage-Reforms - 13:23-31 -- 11.1. Introduction -- 11.2 The Literary Development of 13:23-26 and Ezra 9-10 -- 11.3. The Banishment of Eliashib's Descendant - 13:28f. -- 11.4 Conclusions -- IV. The Dedication of the Wall (12:27-13:3) and the Formation of a New Climax (7:1-12:26) -- Introduction -- 12. The Account of the Dedication Ceremonies (12:27ff.) and the Analogy of 7:1-3 -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Analysis of the Composition of 12:27-43 -- 12.3 The Third-Person Substratum in 7:1-3 -- 12.4 Conclusions -- 13. The Account of the Dedication Ceremonies and the Growth of Chaps. 7-13 -- 13.1. Introduction -- 13.2 The Priority of 12:27 vis-à-vis 11:3ff. and 13:10-13, 14b -- 13.3 The Literary Link between 7:1-3* + 11:1-2 -- 13.4 The Analogy of the Temple Dedication in Ezra 6:16-22 -- 13.5 Conclusions -- 14. The Final Form of the Book in Neh 12:44-13:3 and Neh 8-10 -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 The Youngest Additions to Ezra-Neh - Neh 12:44-13:3 and Neh 8-10 -- 14.3 Concluding Survey -- The Primary Compositional Layers of Neh 1-13 (Table) -- Bibliographies -- Index of Biblical and Ancient Literature -- Index of Modern Authors -- Index of Subjects.