Nehemiah 1

King James Version

Full text for Nehemiah Chapter 1

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,

2That 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.

3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province [are] in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also [is] broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

5¶ And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

6Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

7We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

9But [if] ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, [yet] will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

10Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

11O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nehemiah, serving as the king's cupbearer in Shushan, receives distressing news from Hanani concerning the remnant of Judah in Jerusalem. He learns that the city's walls are broken and its gates burned, and the people are in great affliction. Deeply grieved, Nehemiah responds by weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying to the God of heaven, confessing the sins of Israel and seeking divine favor.

Medium Summary

The book of Nehemiah opens with Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, residing in Shushan the palace during the month Chisleu of the twentieth year. He encounters Hanani and other men from Judah, from whom he inquires about the state of the Jewish remnant and Jerusalem. They report that the Jews who survived the captivity are enduring great affliction and reproach, and critically, Jerusalem's wall is broken down and its gates consumed by fire. Upon hearing this devastating news, Nehemiah is overcome with sorrow, sitting down to weep, mourn, fast, and pray for several days before the God of heaven. In his prayer, he reverently addresses God as great and terrible, who keeps covenant with those who love Him. Nehemiah humbly confesses the collective sins of the children of Israel, acknowledging their corruption and failure to keep God's commandments, including his own household's transgressions. He appeals to God's promises, recalling that while disobedience leads to scattering, repentance brings gathering from the uttermost parts of heaven. Concluding his fervent plea, Nehemiah asks for God's attentive ear and for prosperity and mercy in the sight of the king, identifying himself as the king's cupbearer.

Long Summary

Nehemiah chapter one introduces the protagonist, Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, who is situated in Shushan the palace during the month Chisleu of the twentieth year. His position is revealed to be that of the king's cupbearer, a role of significant trust and proximity to the monarch. The narrative begins with the arrival of Hanani, identified as one of Nehemiah's brethren, accompanied by other men from Judah. Nehemiah eagerly questions them regarding the condition of the Jews who had returned from captivity and the state of Jerusalem itself. The report he receives is dire: the remnant in the province are described as being in great affliction and reproach. Furthermore, the physical state of Jerusalem is revealed to be desolate, with its wall broken down and its gates consumed by fire. This news profoundly impacts Nehemiah, who immediately sits down, weeps, and mourns for several days. His grief is accompanied by fasting and earnest prayer directed to the God of heaven. In his prayer, Nehemiah reverently addresses the Lord God of heaven as the great and terrible God, who faithfully keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and obey His commandments. He implores God to be attentive to his prayer, which he offers day and night on behalf of the children of Israel. A central component of his supplication is a heartfelt confession of the sins of the children of Israel, acknowledging that they, including Nehemiah himself and his father's house, have dealt very corruptly against God by not keeping His commandments, statutes, or judgments. Nehemiah then appeals to God's own word, specifically recalling the promise given through Moses: that transgression would lead to scattering among the nations, but repentance and obedience would result in gathering from the uttermost parts of heaven back to the chosen place. He reminds God that the people are His servants and His people, whom He redeemed by His great power and strong hand. Finally, Nehemiah reiterates his plea for God's attentive ear to his prayer and the prayers of those who desire to fear His name, requesting prosperity and mercy in the sight of the king, leveraging his influential position as cupbearer.

Core Concepts

  • News of Jerusalem's DesolationNehemiah receives a distressing report that the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem is suffering great affliction, and the city's walls are broken down with its gates burned, indicating extreme vulnerability and disgrace.
  • Nehemiah's Grief and PrayerUpon hearing the news, Nehemiah expresses profound sorrow through weeping, mourning, and fasting, which culminates in a sustained period of prayer before God. This demonstrates his deep empathy and spiritual reliance.
  • Confession of Israel's SinsA significant part of Nehemiah's prayer involves a humble and comprehensive confession of the sins of the children of Israel, including his own household, acknowledging their collective failure to uphold God's commandments.
  • Recalling God's Covenant PromisesNehemiah appeals to God's faithfulness by reminding Him of the covenant promises made through Moses, specifically the assurance that though transgression leads to scattering, repentance will result in gathering.
  • God's Attributes and MercyNehemiah addresses God as "the great and terrible God" who "keepeth covenant and mercy," emphasizing divine power, justice, and faithfulness towards those who love and obey Him.
  • Nehemiah's Position and PetitionNehemiah identifies himself as the king's cupbearer, a position of influence, and uses this context to petition God for success and favor in the sight of the king, implying a forthcoming request or mission.