Nehemiah 1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 1

Here we first meet with Nehemiah at the Persian court, where we find him, I. Inquisitive concerning the state of the Jews and Jerusalem, Neh. 1:1, 2. II. Informed of their deplorable condition, Neh. 1:3. III. Fasting and praying thereupon (Neh. 1:4), with a particular account of his prayer, Neh. 1:5-11. Such is the rise of this great man, by piety, not by policy. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 1

This book continues the history of the children of the captivity, the poor Jews, that had lately returned out of Babylon to their own land. At this time not only the Persian monarchy flourished in great pomp and power, but Greece and Rome began to be very great and to make a figure. Of the affairs of those high and mighty states we have authentic accounts extant; but the sacred and inspired history takes cognizance only of the state of the Jews, and makes no mention of other nations but... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 1:1-4

What a tribe Nehemiah was of does nowhere appear; but, if it be true (which we are told by the author of the Maccabees, 2 Macc. 1:18) that he offered sacrifice, we must conclude him to have been a priest. Observe, I. Nehemiah's station at the court of Persia. We are here told that he was in Shushan the palace, or royal city, of the king of Persia, where the court was ordinarily kept (Neh. 1:1), and (Neh. 1:11) that he was the king's cup-bearer. Kings and great men probably looked upon it as a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 1:5-11

We have here Nehemiah's prayer, a prayer that has reference to all the prayers which he had for some time before been putting up to God day and night, while he continued his sorrows for the desolations of Jerusalem, and withal to the petition he was now intending to present to the king his master for his favour to Jerusalem. We may observe in this prayer, I. His humble and reverent address to God, in which he prostrates himself before him, and gives unto him the glory due unto his name, Neh.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 1

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 1 This chapter relates how that Nehemiah, being at Shushan in Persia, and meeting with some Jews, inquired of the state of Jerusalem, of which having a melancholy account, he betook to mourning, fasting, and prayer, Nehemiah 1:1 , and his prayer is recorded, Nehemiah 1:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 1:1

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah ,.... Or his transactions and deeds; for דברי "dibre" signifies things done, as well as words spoken; who Hachaliah his father was is not known; the Arabic version adds, the high priest, without any foundation; though some have thought that Nehemiah was a priest, from a passage in"Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Chisleu, we thought it necessary to certify you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 1:2

That Hanani, one of my brethren ,.... Either in natural relation, Nehemiah 7:2 , or being a Jew of the same nation and religion; so Jarchi interprets it, one of my companions or acquaintance: he and certain men of Judah ; who came from thence to Shushan on some account or another: and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity ; who were returned from it to their own land; he inquired of their health and prosperity, in what circumstances... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 1:3

And they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province ,.... In Judea, now reduced to a province of the Persian empire: are in great affliction and reproach ; harassed and distressed, calumniated and vilified, by their enemies the Samaritans: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire ; that is, its wall and gates were in the same condition in which Nebuchadnezzar had left them, for since his times as yet they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 1:4

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 2:8 , and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven ; that made it, and dwells in it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 1:5

And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven ,.... He prayed not to the host of heaven, the sun in it, as the Persians, but to the God of it, in an humble supplicant manner: the great and terrible God ; who is to be feared, and had in reverence of all his creatures, because of his greatness and glory, being God over all, blessed for ever, and his name holy and reverend: that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him, and observe his commandments ; who keep them from a... read more

Group of Brands