# Nehemiah 01 📖: Nehemiah's Prayer for Jerusalem [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Nehemiah Overview]] | [[Ezra 10]] | [[Nehemiah 02]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ## A Prayer of Nehemiah [[#Verse 01.]] These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: It so happened that in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in Susa the citadel.  [[#Verse 02.]] Hanani, who was one of my relatives, along with some of the men from Judah, came to me, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem. [[#Verse 03.]] They said to me, “The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerable adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!” [[#Verse 04.]] When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  [[#Verse 05.]] Then I said, “Please, O Lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments,  [[#Verse 06.]] may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you—both I myself and my family have sinned.  [[#Verse 07.]] We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.  [[#Verse 08.]] Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations.  [[#Verse 09.]] But if you repent and obey my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.’  [[#Verse 10.]] They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand.  [[#Verse 11.]] Please, Lord, listen attentively to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me in the presence of this man.” Now I was cupbearer for the king. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. - Hebrew Bible has this as part of the book of Ezra. Some say Ezra may have taken Nehemiah's personal journals and written Nehemiah. ###### Verse 01. - King Artaxerxes- possibly the stepson of Queen Esther. She was possibly still alive during all this, but old. ###### Verse 02. - This would have been 13 years after Ezra went back to Jerusalem in the second wave. He was likely hoping to hear great news. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. - It was four months before he told the king. The following prayer is likely a summation of his continual cry to God. ###### Verse 05. - Though he serves the king, he realizes who the True King is. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. - Cupbearer- an honored position in the king's household. Due to the close proximity to the king, the cupbearer usually became a trusted advisor to the king. His role was to make sure everything the king drank was safe. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights - Possibly one of the last Old Testament books written. 1. Kislev (1:1) is the ninth month of the Jewish calendar, roughly November to December. 2. The twentieth year of Artaxerxes I (1:1) was about 445 BC. 3. Susa (1:1) was one of the royal capitals of the Persian Empire. 4. Hanani is called one of Nehemiah's brothers (1:2), and later Nehemiah calls him "my brother" (7:2). 5. The broken wall and burned gates (1:3) may refer to the damage by Nebuchadnezzar or to a more recent setback after the work was stopped (Ezra 4:21-23). 6. Nehemiah's prayer draws on Deuteronomy, especially God's promise to gather His scattered people when they return to Him (Deuteronomy 30:1-4). 7. Nehemiah calls God the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and loyal love (1:5), the same words Daniel uses in his prayer (Daniel 9:4). 8. Nehemiah's name means "the Lord comforts" or "the Lord has comforted." 9. Nehemiah asks God to hear the prayer he prays day and night (1:6), showing that his prayer continued over time. 10. The book opens by introducing the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah (1:1), and much of the book is told in Nehemiah's own first-person voice. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary This is the beginning of the story of one of the most underrated leaders in Israel's history. Without being a king or priest, Nehemiah became a leader who brought the nation of Israel back together. He rebuilt a wall and restored the people's honor. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the great intercessor for His people. Nehemiah wept, fasted, and prayed for Jerusalem, confessing the people's sins as his own (1:4-6). Jesus always lives to intercede for those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application - 📌 He did not think he was above caring for his people. - 📌 He was willing to pray for a long time. - 📌 He was willing to do the hard thing of facing a great sacrifice of leaving a palace and going into the unknown. #### Today, I can apply this chapter by: - ✅ Prayer changes us. - ✅ Depend on God to make the difference. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Nehemiah sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed when he heard the news (1:4). What broken situation should move you to prayer? 2. Nehemiah confessed the sins of Israel, including himself and his family (1:6-7). Why does that matter? 3. Nehemiah's prayer was built on God's promises in His Word (1:8-9). How can Scripture shape the way you pray? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 4: Nehemiah weeps, mourns, fasts, and prays for days. - 📖 verses 5-6: Nehemiah praises the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant and confesses the sins of Israel. - 📖 verse 11: Nehemiah asks God for success and compassion before the king, whom he serves as cupbearer. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Daniel 09#Verse 03.|Daniel 9:3-19]] - Daniel prays and confesses the sins of Israel. - 🔗 [[Deuteronomy 30#Verse 01.|Deuteronomy 30:1-4]] - God promises to gather His people when they return to Him. - 🔗 [[James 05#Verse 16.|James 5:16]] - The prayer of a righteous person is powerful. - 🔗 [[Hebrews 07#Verse 25.|Hebrews 7:25]] - Jesus always lives to intercede for us. - 🔗 [[Psalm 137#Verse 05.|Psalm 137:5-6]] - The exiles refuse to forget Jerusalem. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Nehemiah 01 - SOAP|How To Do Your Part As Part of Something Big]] ## 📂 Internal Notes