View Nehemiah 1 in the note window.
Nehemiah is informed of the deplorable state of the Jews at
Jerusalem, ver. 1 - 3.
He fasts and prays, ver. 4 - 11
1: The words - Or rather, the acts, as the word often signifies.
Chisleu - Which is the ninth month, containing part of November, and
part of December. Year - Of Artaxerxes. Shushan - The royal
city of Persia.
3: The province - In Judea, now a province under the Persian
monarchs. The wall, &c. - The walls and gates continue as
Nebuchadnezzar left them; the Jews not being in a condition to
rebuild them, nor having commission from the kings of Persia to do so.
4: The God of heaven - Who seeth in secret; secret; having no
opportunity of doing it openly.
6: Which I pray, &c. - He refers to all the prayers, which he had for
some time been putting up.
11: To fear thy name - Those who truly desire to fear his name,
shall be graciously accepted of God. This man - The king: who is but a
man and therefore his heart is wholly at thy disposal. Favour with men
is then comfortable, when we see it springing from the mercy of God.
Cup - bearer - Whereby I had opportunity to speak to him, and some favour
with him.
