<P> Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period . He was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia (c. 5th century BC). The name is pronounced / ˌniːəˈmaɪə / or / ˌniːhəˈmaɪə / in English . It is in Hebrew: נְחֶמְיָה ‬, Modern Nəḥemya, Tiberian Neẖemeyā, "Yahweh comforts", a long version of the name "Nahum" which also means comforter . </P> <P> According to most scholars, Nehemiah was a real historical figure and the Nehemiah Memoir, a name given by scholars to certain portions of the book written in the first person, is historically reliable . </P> <P> In the 20th year of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, (445 / 444 BC), Nehemiah was cup - bearer to the king . Learning that the remnant of Jews in Judah were in distress and that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, he asked the king for permission to return and rebuild the city . Artaxerxes sent him to Judah as governor of the province with a mission to rebuild, letters explaining his support for the venture, and provision for timber from the king's forest . Once there, Nehemiah defied the opposition of Judah's enemies on all sides--Samaritans, Ammonites, Arabs and Philistines--and rebuilt the walls within 52 days, from the Sheep Gate in the North, the Hananeel Tower at the North West corner, the Fish Gate in the West, the Furnaces Tower at the Temple Mount's South West corner, the Dung Gate in the South, the East Gate and the gate beneath the Golden Gate in the East . </P> <P> Appearing in the Queen's presence may indicate his being a eunuch, and in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, he is described as such: eunochos (eunuch), rather than oinochoos (wine - cup - bearer). If so the attempt by his enemy Shemaiah to trick him into entering the Temple is aimed at making him break Jewish law, rather than simply hide from assassins . </P>

Who led the rebuilding of the walls of jerusalem