The background for today moves from Ezra, where Jewish immigrants returned back to Jerusalem after being in Babylon for 70-years! It flows through Haggai which was phase-one of re-building the Temple. However, progress lingered for over 16-years. Next was Zechariah who finally completed the temple. Then finally into Nehemiah and building the walls around Jerusalem! The scene we come into is a demoralize people that have wrestled with rebuilding their city. Again the process of moving forward was stalled out, because the walls of protection were in ruins!