“Nehemiah was a man of volcanic temperament who quickly expressed his indignation by taking action . . . if on his first visit, he had been a whirlwind, on his second he was all fire and earthquake to a city that had settled down in his absence to a comfortable compromise with the gentile world.” - The Expositors Bible Commentary

'Israel's problem before exile was a hard heart that resulted in rebellion against the terms of their covenant with God. And Israel's problem after exile ... well, it's the same.' - Tim Mackie - The Bible Project