Very little introductory information is given to us in this first chapter. We learn only two things about Nehemiah: His father was named Hachaliah, and he himself was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, which was a very influential position. His reaction to the news from Jerusalem shows him to be a person of spiritual character.
J. Alec Motyer comments:
We do not know very much for certain about the history of that time; however, much suggests that the enthusiasm sparked by Ezra's journey partly took on a politically nationalist direction. The enthusiasm was so ignited that it led to an unauthorized rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem. Some of the enemies of God's people in that region reported ... to Artaxerxes about this matter, and he ordered the construction to stop. The enemies of God capitalized on this by marching up to Jerusalem with the royal prohibition in hand, to cause the building to cease and to tear down the walls again. It was most likely the news of this event that reached Nehemiah. [1]
J. Alec Motyer comments:
We do not know very much for certain about the history of that time; however, much suggests that the enthusiasm sparked by Ezra's journey partly took on a politically nationalist direction. The enthusiasm was so ignited that it led to an unauthorized rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem. Some of the enemies of God's people in that region reported ... to Artaxerxes about this matter, and he ordered the construction to stop. The enemies of God capitalized on this by marching up to Jerusalem with the royal prohibition in hand, to cause the building to cease and to tear down the walls again. It was most likely the news of this event that reached Nehemiah. [1]
Footnote
[1] J. Alec Motyer, Toward the Mark, Bd. 6, Nr.1, Januar/Februar 1977, S. 6.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-3
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 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.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-04-08 Source: Title: Commentary on the Old Testament Title (Original): BBC – Believer’s Bible Commentary – Old Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1184 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck Translation: Christiane Eichler, Hermann Grabe, Sven und Esther Passig, Melanie Reimer, Alois Wagner Cover design: OTTENDESIGN.de, Gummersbach |
There was no history before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, glory be to Him. Today, history is related to the birth of our Lord (BC) before Christ and AD (after Christ). Previously, history was related to the kings and the periods of their rule e.g. referring certain historical events to the twentieth year of the rule of Artaxerxes or Cyrus. This continued till the birth of our Lord Jesus.
Nehemiah worked as king Artaxerxes’ cupbearer in Shushan. While Nehemiah was at the palace, a person called Hanani (related to Nehemiah’s predecessors) came to him with men from the tribe of Judah. Nehemiah asked them about Jerusalem and the condition of the people.
Nehemiah worked as king Artaxerxes’ cupbearer in Shushan. While Nehemiah was at the palace, a person called Hanani (related to Nehemiah’s predecessors) came to him with men from the tribe of Judah. Nehemiah asked them about Jerusalem and the condition of the people.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
 | Author: Daoud Lamei Rank: Priest Posted on: 2022-10-03 |
[Synopsis on Nehemiah] In the second book he says the same things (as the book of Ezra) concerning the return from Babylon, except the riddles. On the other hand, he relates more things concerning Nehemiah the eunuch, how he too asked for the building of the temple, and how Ezra performed the function of a scribe, while Josue, Baneas and Habia instructed the people. He relates that Ezra explained the knowledge of the Lord by reading; that the people, through his reading, understood what things must be done and celebrated the phase. They also observed a fast in the seventh month, and the feast of the Tabernacles, as is written. "They had not done so since the days of Josue the son of Nun", he says. When Ezra saw Azotian women married to Hebrews, he mourned and cried, and made everyone promise to keep God's law, and he cast out those women, as being joined by unlawful union, and everyone swore to keep the law. And, thus sanctified and cleansed, they rejoiced, and each man went away to his house. It is also told about Ezra that, when the books had been lost owing to the people's negligence and the long captivity, he, being a man fond of virtue, industrious, and a scribe, kept them all with him, and eventually brought them forth and transmitted them to all, and thus preserved the Bible.
 | Author: Athanasius the Apostolic Rank: Pope AD: 373 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.