Jerusalem Fence

During Ezra time, Nehemiah wor working for King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah wor Israelite who wor living in the Persian city they call Shushan. His brother come from Judah with bad news. He say: ‘The people who go back to Jerusalem not safe there. Because the city fence and gates da the Babylonians destroy, they not build it yet.’ Nehemiah wor not happy about the news. He wanted to go to Jerusalem to help, so he pray to Jehovah for the king to let him go.

One day, the king notice da Nehemiah wor looking sad. So he say: ‘I not see you like this before. What happen?’ Then Nehemiah say: ‘Why I will not be looking sad when my city, Jerusalem, finish spoil.’ Then the king ask him: ‘What you want me do for you?’ Right away, Nehemiah pray in his heart. Then he say: ‘Please, let me go to Jerusalem to build the fence again.’ King Artaxerxes tell Nehemiah to go, and he made sure for him to be safe on his long journey. He also made Nehemiah governor for Judah and give him wood for the city gates.

When Nehemiah reach Jerusalem, he check the city fence. Then he call the priest and the ruler dem together and tell them say: ‘This fence looking too bad. We need to start working on it.’ The people agree, and they start building the fence again.

But some of the Israelite dem enemies wor making fun out of them. They say: ‘One fox seh can make this fence yor building to fall down.’ The worker dem not pay attention to the thing they wor talking. They just continue to build the wall. The wall wor going up and getting strong.

The enemy dem decide to come from different side to attack Jerusalem without them knowing about it. When the people in Jerusalem hear about their plan, they wor scare. But Nehemiah say: ‘Yor mon not be scare. Jehovah with us.’ He put security to protect the people da wor working and the enemy dem wor not able to attack them.

The fence and the gate they wor building finish just in 52 days. So Nehemiah call the Levites to Jerusalem so they can delicate the place to Jehovah. He divide them in two groups to sing. They go up on the wall, side the stairs by the Fountain Gate and march in different direction around the city. They play the trumpets, cymbals, and harps and sing to Jehovah. Ezra march with one group and Nehemiah march with the other group, until they meet to the temple. All the people whether men, women, and children, give their sacrifices to Jehovah and they celebrate. They wor happy until the people da wor living far off wor hearing their voice.