Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah Prays for His People

1-3 Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, who is in the Persian capital of Susa in the 20th year [of the reign of Artaxerxes], receives a visit from his brother Hanani, who tells him that the exiles in Jerusalem live in shame, with no city walls nor gates. This is estimated to be in 445 B.C. Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes, AKA Ahasuerus, Esther’s husband, reigned from 465-424 B.C.

4-11 Nehemiah sits and weeps at this news, mourning, weeping and fasting for days, confessing his and his family’s sins to God, citing God’s promise to restore his people’s heritage if they repent, asking God that the king will be merciful to him, for he was the king’s cupbearer. Nehemiah’s position as trusted cupbearer not only gave him influence but frequent access to the king. According to The Woman's Study Bible, this is one of ten prayers of Nehemiah in the book.