John Gill Commentary Nehemiah 1:4

"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)

And it came to pass, when I heard these words
This sad and melancholy account of things:

that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days ;
sat down upon the ground in dust and ashes, after the manner of mourners, and wept bitterly, and mourned in a most sorrowful manner, see (Job 2:8Job 2:12Job 2:13) ,

and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven ;
that made it, and dwells in it.