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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
1:1-2:20 Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem to Rebuild Its Walls. This section recounts Nehemiah's burden for and first efforts in rebuilding Jerusalem. He learns of Jerusalem's decrepit condition (1:1-11), gains permission to rebuild the city, inspects its walls (2:1-16), and endures the first wave of opposition (2:17-20).
1:1-11 Nehemiah Learns of Jerusalem's Dilapidation. Nehemiah hears of the distress of Jerusalem and Judah (vv. 1-3) and prays for God's favor toward them (vv. 4-11).
1:1 Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Nehemiah's name means "Yahweh has comforted." The twentieth year is that of Artaxerxes' reign, , after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem (see Ezra 7:7). Chislev is the ninth month (November/December), in the winter (see Ezra 10:9). Susa the capital, or the "fortress," was one of the royal seats. Ecbatana (Ezra 6:2) was a royal summer home, and Susa was a winter residence.
1:2-3 Hanani, one of my brothers. See also 7:2. came with certain men. It is not known whether these men were residents of Jerusalem or of Persia, nor is the nature of their mission known. the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile. This, along with the remnant, refers to the returned exiles living in Jerusalem and Judah (see note on Ezra 9:8). The report about the wall of Jerusalem might mean that the wall had never been successfully rebuilt since the first return of exiles, or that an attempt to rebuild it had been thwarted, perhaps by command of the reigning king, Artaxerxes (see note on Ezra 4:20).
1:4 wept and mourned. Compare the reaction of Ezra when he discovered sin in the community (Ezra 9:4-5; 10:1). God of heaven was a way of referring to God in international contexts (cf. Ezra 1:2; 5:12).
1:5 O Lord God of heaven. This combination of names means that the God of Israel (Ex. 3:13-15) is the only God. keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. Cf. Deut. 7:9. Steadfast love is the quality of God's faithfulness to Israel in his covenant with them. Such covenant faithfulness requires Israel's love in return (see also Deut. 6:5). This love also includes faithfulness, and is made evident in keeping God's law as given to Moses; obedience is the proper response to God's love, not the precondition of it.
1:6 Nehemiah's prayer begins with a confession recalling all the past sins of Israel, as well as those of Nehemiah himself and of his family. Such confession is generally the right beginning in prayer, but Nehemiah especially acknowledges that Israel's sin has led to the present deplorable situation in Jerusalem. Israel has not responded to God's gracious covenant in the way outlined in v. 5. Nehemiah's prayer also recalls Solomon's when he dedicated the first temple (1 Kings 8:28-30). His use of the term "servant" for himself (your servant) and Israel (your servants) is significant since he is also a servant of King Artaxerxes. Ezra used a form of the same word (Hb. ‘ebed) to speak of "slavery" to Persia (Ezra 9:9). Nehemiah's prayer raises the question of who is the real Lord of Israel.
1:8-9 Remember. Moses also called on God to remember his promises when Israel was suffering his judgment because of sin (Ex. 32:13; Deut. 9:27). Nehemiah now recalls God's words about the essential choice placed before Israel in the covenant, in which disobedience would lead to scattering, or exile, among the peoples (Lev. 26:27-33; Deut. 4:25-27; 28:64), while obedience would bring blessing (Lev. 26:3-13; Deut. 28:1-14). if you return to me. In Nehemiah's perspective, however, the threatened exile did indeed happen; so he now appeals to God's old promise that even then, if Israel repented, he would restore them to the land and prosperity (Lev. 26:40-42; Deut. 4:29-31; 30:1-6). The restoration has happened in one sense, for many of God's people have returned from exile, but it remains incomplete because the land is not yet secure. the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there. Again, the reference is to the old promise to bring Israel into its land (Deut. 12:5). The "place" in question was primarily the city where the Lord's sanctuary would be, which was finally Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:4). The dwelling of the "name" meant the Lord's claiming of the place as his own, in contrast to the claims of other gods or rulers.
1:10 redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. The reference, both here and in Deut. 4:34, is to
1:11 fear your name. On fearing God, see note on Prov. 1:7 and other verses mentioned there. To "fear God's name" is essentially the same as fearing God himself, since the "name" of God here represents God's character and all that he is (cf. Deut. 10:20; 28:58). mercy in the sight of this man (i.e., Artaxerxes). Nehemiah knows that God can move powerful people to act in ways that accord with his own plans, and in favor of his people (see Ezra 6:22). But he may also know that Artaxerxes has already decreed that work on rebuilding Jerusalem should stop (see note on Neh. 1:2-3; see also Ezra 4:23). Therefore, Nehemiah's petition may bring danger to him. The position of cupbearer to the king was a high office and involved regular access to the king.
