Nehemiah 1

{{short description|Chapter from Nehemiah in the Old Testament}} {{Bible chapter|letname= Nehemiah 1 |previouslink= Ezra 10 |previousletter=Ezra 10 |nextlink= Nehemiah 2|nextletter= chapter 2 |book=Book of Nehemiah |biblepart=Old Testament | booknum= 16 |category= Ketuvim | filename= Tanakh-Sassoon1053-24-Ezra.pdf | size=250px |caption=<div style="width: 250px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">Hebrew Bible, MS Sassoon 1053, images 485-513 (Ezra-Nehemiah).</div>}} '''Nehemiah 1''' is the first chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,{{sfn|Halley|1965|p=235}} or the 11th chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah as one book.{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=313}} Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,<ref>Babylonian Talmud ''Baba Bathra'' 15a, ''apud'' Fensham 1982, p. 2</ref> but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "Chronicler") is the final author of these books.{{sfn|Fensham|1982|pp=2–4}} This chapter describes Nehemiah's position in the Persian court and his piety.{{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=321}}

==Text== thumb|right|200px|A page containing the Latin text of Ezra 8:22–10:44 (end) and Nehemiah 1:1–3:8 in the Codex Gigas (English: Giant Book), the largest extant medieval manuscript in the world (from 13th century). This chapter is divided into 11 verses. The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language.

===Textual witnesses=== Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}}{{efn|Since 1947 the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the Aleppo Codex.{{sfn|Skehan |2003|pp=335-362}}}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus ('''S'''; BHK: <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

==The report (1:1–3)== thumb|right|200px|Nehemiah receiving reports about Jerusalem. Illustration of Book of Nehemiah Chapter 1. Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett This part opens the memoirs (chapter 1–8){{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=318}} of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah, who works in Persia as a court official but worries about the welfare of fellow Jews living in Jerusalem at the time.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=132}} The first few verses of this chapter indicate the focus of the whole book of Nehemiah, starting by the introduction of the problem, that is, the "sad state of Jerusalem", followed by the solutions of this problem in the next chapters and the effects on the community in general. {{sfn|Grabbe|2003|p=321}}

===Verse 1=== :''The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.'' :''And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,''<ref>{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:1|KJV}}</ref> *"Chisleu (Kislev)": While Ezra uses numbered months (the nomenclature of the Torah), Nehemiah uses 'Babylonian calendrical names'.{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=318}} *"The twentieth year": for the reign of Artaxerxes I corresponds to 445 BC, thirteen years after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem.{{sfn|McConville|1985|p=74}} *"Shushan" or "Susa"{{efn|Note [a] on {{bibleref2|Nehemiah| 1:1|NKJV}} in the NKJV}} *"Palace" (NKJV: “citadel"): or "fortified palace", also elsewhere in the book.{{efn|Note [b] on {{bibleref2|Nehemiah| 1:1|NKJV}} in the NKJV}}

===Verse 2=== :''That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:2|KJV}}</ref> *"Brethren": or "brothers", can be taken figuratively, but Williamson,{{sfn|Williamson|1985|p=171}} noting {{bibleverse|Nehemiah|7:2|KJV}}, suggests to take this literally.{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=318}}

===Verse 3=== :''And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."''<ref>{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:3|NKJV}}</ref> The news of the state of Jerusalem troubled Nehemiah partly because of the 'shame' (reproach; ''herpa'') of this circumstance ("on taunts of foreigners", {{bibleverse|Psalm|69:20, 21|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Psalm|71:13|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Psalm|89:51|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Psalm|119:22|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Isaiah|51:7|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|51:51|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Lamentations|3:61|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Zephaniah|2:8|KJV}}), but perhaps because he is surprised that 'the walls are still down, even after the temple has been rebuilt'.{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=318}}

==Nehemiah prays (1:4–11)== Nehemiah was passionate for the glory of God, so even while driven by empathy, before he formulated any plan, his first response was to pray to God.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|pp=133–135}} Eight times in his prayer, Nehemiah uses the term ''servant'' to refer himself, the Jewish people or Moses, also to begin and to close his prayer, showing his 'reverential submission' to God.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=134}} Nehemiah's confession and petition reflects the whole Deuteronomic law, as he patterns his wordings after a condensed version of {{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|30|KJV}} about God's curses and blessings, trusting God's promise to gather his people when they return to God.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=134}} This prayer consists of five portions: * (1) the opening address, Nehemiah 1:5 * (2) the humble approach, {{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:6|KJV}}a * (3) the confession of sins, {{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:6|KJV}}b, {{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:7|KJV|7}} * (4) the appeal to the Divine Promise, {{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:8-10|KJV}} * (5) the closing supplication for (a) the people, and (b) Nehemiah as their representative at the royal court, Nehemiah 1:11.{{sfn|Ryle|1893|pp=145-}}

There are similarities with the prayer of Ezra<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|9:5-15|KJV}}</ref>{{sfn|Ryle|1893|pp=145-}} In particular, it has a close resemblance to the prayer of Daniel ({{bibleverse|Daniel|9:4-19|KJV}}), such as: the opening words in Nehemiah 1:5 are almost word for word the same as in {{bibleverse|Daniel|9:4|KJV}}, with the only variations being 'Adonai' for 'YHWH' and the additional title 'God of heaven'.{{sfn|Ryle|1893|pp=145-}}

===Verse 5=== :''and said:'' :''"I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments."''<ref>{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:5|MEV}}</ref> *"Keep": from the Hebrew verb {{langx|he|שָׁמַר}} (''shamar'', "to observe; to keep") is often used as an idiom that means "to obey" the commandments of God (for examples, {{bibleverse|Exodus|20:6|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|5:16|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Deuteronomy|23:24|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Deuteronomy|29:8|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Judges|2:22|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|1 Kings|2:43|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|1 Kings|11:11|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|119:8|KJV}}, {{bibleverse|Psalm|119:17|KJV|17}}, {{bibleverse|Psalm|119:34|KJV|34}}; {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|35:18|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Ezekiel|17:14|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Amos|2:4|KJV}}).{{efn|See BDB 1036 s.v. 3.c.}}{{efn|Note [b] on {{bibleref2|Nehemiah |1:5|NET}} in the NET Bible}}

===Verse 11=== :''"O Lord, I implore You, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. And let Your servant prosper this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."'' :''For I was the king's cupbearer.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|1:11|MEV}}</ref> *"Cupbearer" (cf. {{bibleverse|Genesis|40:1|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Genesis|41:9|KJV}}): considered by many scholars to mean "one who tasted wine for poison" (Xenophon. ''Cyropaedia''. 1.3.9), but in the LXX (''oinochoos'' in Alexandrinus and others) causes the rise of a variant that suggests Nehemiah was a "eunuch" (''eunouchos'') found only in Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, and Venetus, but rejected by most scholars.{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=318}} However, the arguments against Nehemiah's physical mutilation (as 'eunuch') 'tend to be motivated by the myth of Persian beneficence' {{bibleverse|Isaiah|56:4-5|KJV}}, and should not be dismissed lightly, as sociological studies indicate a possibility in tradition of Nehemiah as a eunuch.{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=318}}

==See also== *Artaxerxes I *Jerusalem *Related Bible parts:{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|30|KJV}}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Sources== {{refbegin|2|indent=yes}} *{{cite book|last= Fensham| first=F. Charles | title=The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah | series=New international commentary on the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition= illustrated | date = 1982 | isbn = 978-0802825278 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfxMeDl6BZgC | access-date=October 28, 2019}} *{{cite book|last= Grabbe| first= Lester L.|authorlink= Lester L. Grabbe | chapter = Nehemiah | title=Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible | editor-first1=James D. G.| editor-last1=Dunn |editor1-link = James Dunn (theologian) | editor-first2=John William| editor-last2= Rogerson |editor2-link = John W. Rogerson | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition= illustrated | date = 2003 | pages = 320–328| isbn = 978-0802837110 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC | access-date=October 28, 2019}} *{{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}} *{{cite book|last1= Larson| first1= Knute|last2=Dahlen |first2=Kathy |last3=Anders|first3= Max E. | title=Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther | series= Holman Old Testament commentary|volume= 9 | editor-first=Max E.| editor-last=Anders | publisher = B&H Publishing Group|edition= illustrated | date = 2005 | isbn = 978-0805494693 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4MmHIVtd6r0C | access-date=October 28, 2019}} *{{cite book|last= Levering| first=Matthew | title=Ezra & Nehemiah | series=Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible | publisher = Brazos Press | date = 2007| isbn = 978-1587431616 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYhGQVLlL4IC | access-date=October 28, 2019}} *{{cite book|last= McConville| first=J. G. | title=Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther | series=The daily study Bible : Old Testament | publisher = Westminster John Knox Press | date = 1985 | isbn = 978-0664245832 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhyPOmOzZhoC | access-date=October 28, 2019}} *{{cite book|title=Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges|editor=J J Stewart Perowne|editor-link=John Perowne|date=1893|first=H E |last=Ryle|volume=Ezra and Nehemiah|url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgebiblefo16pero/page/144/mode/2up|publisher=University Press|location =Cambridge}} *{{citation | first=P. W. |last=Skehan | contribution=Bible (Texts) | title=New Catholic Encyclopedia | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 }} *{{cite book|last= Smith-Christopher| first= Daniel L.|authorlink= Daniel L. Smith-Christopher | chapter = 15. Ezra-Nehemiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 308–324 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}} *{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Hugh Godfrey Maturin |title=Ezra, Nehemiah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7rLLngEACAAJ|series=Word Biblical Commentary|volume=16|year=1985|publisher=Word Books|isbn=978-0-8499-0215-4}} *{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | authorlink = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}} {{refend}}

==Further reading== *[https://books.google.com/books?id=3PvirfZkfvQC Blenkinsopp, Joseph, "Ezra-Nehemiah: A Commentary" (Eerdmans, 1988)] *[https://books.google.com/books?id=m1V1DeBS6P0C Blenkinsopp, Joseph, "Judaism, the first phase" (Eerdmans, 2009)] *[https://books.google.com/books?id=qRw7AAAAIAAJ Coggins, R.J., "The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah" (Cambridge University Press, 1976)] *[http://www.ronaldecker.com/ezra.html Ecker, Ronald L., "Ezra and Nehemiah"], Ecker's Biblical Web Pages, 2007. *[https://books.google.com/books?id=S2MSzgZ8DMMC Grabbe, L.L., "Ezra-Nehemiah" (Routledge, 1998)] *[https://books.google.com/books?id=VK2fEzruIn0C Grabbe, L.L., "A history of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period, Volume 1" (T&T Clark, 2004)] *[https://books.google.com/books?id=VI1bMiMXLs0C Throntveit, Mark A. (1992) "Ezra-Nehemiah". John Knox Press]

==External links== * Jewish translations: ** [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16508 Nechemiah - Nehemiah - Chapter 1 (Judaica Press)] translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org * Christian translations: ** [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Nehemiah+1 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English) ** [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=16&chapter=1&version=9 Book of Nehemiah Chapter 1. Bible Gateway]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nehemiah 1}}  01