Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 1
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 1
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 1
"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace," — Nehemiah 1:1 (ASV)
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah - The prophetical books generally begin with a title of this kind ; but no other extant historical book begins this way. Nehemiah, while attaching his work to Ezra, perhaps marked in this manner the point at which his own composition began. (See the introduction of the Book of Nehemiah.)
Chisleu - The ninth month, corresponding to the end of November and beginning of December.
In the twentieth year - That is, of Artaxerxes Longimanus (465-425 B.C.). .
Shushan the palace - (Compare to Esther 1:2, Esther 1:5, etc.; Daniel 8:2). Shushan, or Susa, was the usual residence of the Persian kings. “The palace” or acropolis was a distinct quarter of the city, occupying an artificial eminence.
"that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem." — Nehemiah 1:2 (ASV)
Hanani seems to have been an actual brother of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 7:2).
"And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." — Nehemiah 1:3 (ASV)
The attempt to rebuild the wall in the time of the Pseudo-Smerdis (Ezra 4:12–24) had been stopped. It still remained in ruins. The Assyrian sculptures show that it was the usual practice to burn the gates.
"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven," — Nehemiah 1:4 (ASV)
The God of heaven - This title of the Almighty, which is Persian rather than Jewish (see 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:2 note; Ezra 6:10; Ezra 7:12, 21), is a favorite one with Nehemiah, who had been born and brought up in Persia.
"O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king." — Nehemiah 1:11 (ASV)
A Persian king had numerous cup-bearers, each of whom probably discharged the office in his turn.
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