NEHEL{I'AH, son of Hachaliah, probably of royal descent, is first mentioned in the Bible as cup-bearer to Artaxerxes Longimanus in his palace at about Having learned the sad fate of th&returned coloniSts in Jerusalem, he prevailed upon the king to send him to his brethren there with full powers "to seek their welfare." For twelve years (444-432), he was untiringly engaged as "governor" in works for their safety from within and without: refortifying the city walls, notwithstanding the hindrances and dangers that beset him on all sides; inducing people from the coun try to take up their permanent abode in the city, thus promoting its prosperity; and finally, and above all, rekindling the flame of ancient piety and enthusiasm for the observ ance of the law in the hearts of the rough inunigrants. He then returned to Persia, trust ing to the new vitality which his reforms lied, as he thought, infused into the Jewish commonwealth. But not long afterwards—within a period which it is extremely diffi cult now to fix—lie had again to obtain leave from the king, for the purpose of abolish ing the many abuses that had crept in during his brief absence from Jerusalem». His energies now were chiefly - directed against the foreign elementa-mixed up with the people, both privately and pnblicly. He enforced the rigorous observation of feast and Sabbath, and rearranged the temple service in accordance with its primeval purity, pro curing at the same time the means for its proper support by inducing the people to offer the tithes as of old. his second stay at .Jerusalem seems to have lasted between ten and
fifteen rears; but the dates, as gathered from circumstantial evidence only, are exceed ingly vague. He seems to have lived to an old age, but the place and year of his death are unknown. What was the part he took in the formation and redaction of the biblical canon, cannot be investigated in this place. But there can hardly be a doubt that, among the reformatory works undertaken by him, the collection, and perhaps the edition of some of the books of the Old Testament must be included.
The book known under his name (in 13 chapters) is believed only partly his own IVOTIK. Recent investigation ascribes to him only the first six chapters, part of the seventh, and the last chapter and half; the rest being a compilation by other hands. Its style and character are very simple, free from anything supernatural or prophetic. Its language resembles much that of Chronicles and Ezra, and is replete with Aramaisms and other foreign, partly Persian words. Originally considered a mere continuation of the Book of Ezra, it was by the Greeks and Latins at first called "The Second Book of Ezra." Gradually, however, it assumed its present independent position in the canon after Ezra. It is supposed to have been written or compiled towards the end of Nebo nnah's life.