Nehemiah
Of Nehemiah, the author and principal actor in the events recorded in this book, the Jews speak as one of the greatest men of their nation. His concern for his country entitles him to the character of the first patriot that ever lived. Descended, according to some, of the family of Aaron, or according to others, of the tribe of Judah and allied to the royal family of David, in the course of Divine Providence, he was a captive in Babylon, but there his excellences were so apparent, that he was chosen by the Persian king to fill an office the most respectable and the most confidential in the whole court. Here he lived in ease and affluence. he lacked no good thing; and here he might have continued to live, in the same affluence, and in the same confidence; but he could enjoy neither, so long as he knew his people distressed, the sepulchres of his fathers trodden under foot, the altars of his God overturned, and his worship either totally neglected or corrupted. He sought the peace of Jerusalem; prayed for it; and was willing to sacrifice wealth, ease, safety, and even life itself, if he might be the instrument of restoring the desolations of Israel. And God, who saw the desire of his heart, and knew the excellences with which he had endowed him, granted his request, and gave him the high honour of restoring the desolated city of his ancestors, and the pure worship of their God. The opposition of Sanballat and the Samaritans, and the firmness and zeal with which he repelled their insults and ineffectual efforts cannot be read without the liveliest emotions; and will afford to the latest times, a noble and animating example of distinguished patriotism, united with the sincerest devotion to the interests of religion. The virtue and piety of this great and good man, appear with equal lustre in the numerous and important reformations he effected. He relieved the people from their hardships and oppressions, by abolishing the harsh and usurious practices of the nobles and rulers; gave up his own revenue, as governor of the province, for the benefit of the people; and, as a further means of conciliating their affections, exhibited an example of the most princely hospitality. As the best security for good morals, and the better observance of the laws of God, he re-established the offices of public worship, and prevented the profanation of the sabbath, which had arrived at a shameful excess; he furnished the returned captives with authentic registers, and enabled them, in the best manner possible, after so long and calamitous an interval, to trace the genealogies, and claim the inheritance of their respective families; and further, he accomplished the separation of the Jewish people from the mixed multitude, with which they had been incorporated, and annulled the numerous marriages which they had made with heathens and idolaters of every description. For disinterestedness, philanthropy, patriotism, prudence, courage, zeal, humanity, and every virtue that constitutes a great mind, and proves a soul in deep communion with God, Nehemiah will ever stand conspicuous among the greatest men of the Jewish nation; and an exemplar worthy of being copied by the first patriots in every nation under heaven.
Nehemiah 1
Overview
1:1 Nehemiah, understanding by Hanani the misery of Jerusalem, mourns, fasts, and prays;
1:5 His prayer. Verse 1 Reciprocal Nehemiah 2:1 - the twentieth; 10:1 - son of Hachaliah; Esther 1:2 - Shushan; 8:14 - Shushan; Daniel 8:2 - Shushan; Zechariah 7:1 - Chisleu Verse 2 Hanani Nehemiah 7:2 I asked Psalm 122:6-9, 137:5, 137:6 that had escaped Ezra 9:8, 9:9, 9:14; Jeremiah 44:14; Ezekiel 6:9, 7:16, 24:26, 24:27 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 9:19 - For I; Isaiah 30:17 - till ye; Jeremiah 51:50 - remember Verse 3 the province Nehemiah 7:6, 11:3; Ezra 2:1, 5:8; Esther 1:1 in great Nehemiah 9:36, 9:37; Psalm 44:11-14, 137:1-3; Isaiah 32:9-14; Lamentations 1:7, 3:61, 5:1 reproach 1 Kings 9:7; Psalm 79:4; Isaiah 43:28; Jeremiah 24:9, 29:18, 42:18, 44:8-12 the wall Nehemiah 2:17; 2 Kings 25:10; Isaiah 5:5, 64:10, 64:11; Jeremiah 5:10, 39:8, 52:14 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 4:27 - General; 1 Samuel 4:13 - his heart; Ezra 4:12 - set up; Nehemiah 2:3 - the city; 2:13 - the walls; Job 19:5 - plead; Psalm 74:3 - the perpetual; 102:14 - General; Isaiah 30:17 - till ye; 44:26 - and I will; Lamentations 2:9 - gates; Habakkuk 3:1 - which suffer Verse 4 I sat down 1 Samuel 4:17-22; Ezra 10:1; Psalm 69:9, 69:10, 102:13, 102:14, 137:1; Daniel 9:3; Zephaniah 3:18; Romans 12:15 the God Nehemiah 2:4; Ezra 5:11, 5:12; Daniel 2:18; Jonah 1:9 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 4:13 - his heart; 2 Kings 22:19 - wept; Ezra 9:3 - sat; Job 2:13 - they sat; Isaiah 38:3 - wept; Daniel 10:2 - I Daniel; Matthew 6:16 - when; Habakkuk 3:1 - which suffer; Revelation 16:11 - the God Verse 5 the great Nehemiah 4:14; Deuteronomy 7:21; 1 Chronicles 17:21; Psalm 47:2; Daniel 9:4-19 keepeth Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Kings 8:23; Habakkuk 3:1-6:18 Reciprocal Exodus 34:7 - Keeping; Deuteronomy 4:31 - the Lord; 10:17 - a great; 12:28 - General; 1 Kings 8:30 - when they shall; 2 Chronicles 6:14 - keepest covenant; Nehemiah 9:32 - our God; Psalm 68:35 - terrible; 89:2 - Mercy; 99:3 - thy great; 105:8 - He hath remembered; 111:5 - he will; Jeremiah 32:18 - the Great; Ezekiel 16:60 - I will remember; Romans 8:28 - them; James 1:12 - them Verse 6 thine ear 1 Kings 8:28, 8:29; 2 Chronicles 6:40; Psalm 34:15, 130:2; Daniel 9:17, 9:18 day and night 1 Samuel 15:11; Psalm 55:17, 88:1; Luke 2:37, 18:7; 1 Timothy 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:3 confess Ezra 9:6, 9:7, 10:11; Psalm 32:5; Isaiah 64:6, 64:7; Lamentations 3:39-42; Daniel 9:4, 9:20; 1 John 1:9 both I 2 Chronicles 28:10, 29:6; Psalm 106:6; Isaiah 6:5; Lamentations 5:7; Ephesians 2:3 Reciprocal Leviticus 16:21 - confess over; 1 Kings 8:30 - when they shall; 8:47 - saying; 2 Chronicles 6:20 - thine eyes; 6:37 - We have sinned; 7:15 - mine eyes; Nehemiah 1:11 - Let now; 9:2 - confessed; Psalm 17:1 - attend; 102:17 - He will; Lamentations 1:18 - for I; Daniel 9:5 - have sinned; Zechariah 12:4 - I will open Verse 7 dealt Nehemiah 9:29-35; Psalm 106:6; Daniel 9:5, 9:6 corruptly 2 Chronicles 27:2; Hosea 9:9; Zephaniah 3:7; Revelation 19:2 the commandments Leviticus 27:34; Deuteronomy 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 28:15; 1 Kings 2:3; Psalm 19:8, 19:9, 119:5-8 which thou Deuteronomy 4:5; 2 Chronicles 25:4; Ezra 7:6; Daniel 9:11, 9:13; Malachi 4:4 Reciprocal Leviticus 16:21 - confess over; Amos 2:4 - because Verse 8 Remember Psalm 119:49; Luke 1:72 If ye transgress Leviticus 26:33-46; Deuteronomy 4:25-27, 28:64, 32:26-28; 1 Kings 9:6, 9:7 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 4:27 - General; 1 Kings 8:33 - turn again; 2 Chronicles 6:24 - shall return; Nehemiah 9:14 - Moses; Esther 3:8 - scattered abroad; Job 7:7 - remember; Isaiah 14:1 - the Lord; 24:1 - scattereth; Jeremiah 9:16 - scatter; Lamentations 5:1 - Remember; Ezekiel 5:10 - the whole; 14:6 - Repent; 20:43 - shall ye; 22:15 - scatter; 39:28 - and have; Hosea 2:15 - I will; 5:15 - till; Malachi 3:7 - Return unto me Verse 9 if ye turn Leviticus 26:39-42; Deuteronomy 4:29-31, 30:2-5; Jeremiah 29:11-14 yet will I 1 Chronicles 16:35; Psalm 106:47, 147:2; Isaiah 11:12, 56:8; Jeremiah 12:15, 31:10; 32:37, 50:19, 50:20; Matthew 24:31 will bring Jeremiah 3:14; Ezekiel 36:24 the place Deuteronomy 12:5, 12:21; 1 Kings 9:3; Ezra 6:12 Reciprocal Exodus 20:24 - in all places; Deuteronomy 4:27 - General; 30:4 - unto; 30:10 - turn unto; 1 Kings 8:16 - my name; 8:29 - My name; 8:33 - turn again; 8:48 - And so return; 2 Kings 21:7 - In this house; 2 Chronicles 6:24 - shall return; Isaiah 14:1 - the Lord; 27:12 - ye shall be; Jeremiah 36:3 - they may; Ezekiel 14:6 - Repent; Hosea 2:15 - I will; 5:15 - till; Zechariah 10:9 - remember; Malachi 3:7 - Return unto me Verse 10 Now these Exodus 32:11; Deuteronomy 9:29; Isaiah 63:16-19, 64:9; Daniel 9:15-27 whom Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 15:15; Psalm 74:2 thy strong Exodus 6:1, 13:9; Psalm 136:12; Daniel 9:15 Reciprocal Exodus 6:6 - redeem; Deuteronomy 9:26 - which thou hast brought forth; 2 Samuel 7:23 - thy people; 1 Kings 8:51 - thy people; Ezra 7:6 - according to; Hosea 7:13 - though Verse 11 Let now Nehemiah 1:6; Psalm 86:6, 130:2 who desire Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 26:8, 26:9; Habakkuk 3:1 grant Nehemiah 2:8; Genesis 32:11, 32:28, 43:14; Ezra 1:1, 7:6, 7:27, 7:28; Proverbs 21:1 For I wasThe office of cup-bearer was one of great trust, honour, and emolument, in the Persian court. To be in such a place of trust he must have been in the king's confidence; for no eastern potentate would have a cup-bearer to whom he could not trust his life, poison being often administered in that way. It was an office much desired, because it gave access to the king in those seasons of hilarity when men are most disposed to grant favours. Nehemiah 2:1; Genesis 40:2, 40:9-13, 40:21, 40:23, 41:9 Reciprocal 24:12 - I pray; 24:42 - prosper; 30:27 - favour; 33:4 - embraced; 40:1 - the butler; 40:11 - hand; Exodus 2:6 - she had compassion; 3:21 - General; 1 Kings 8:50 - and give them; 2 Chronicles 9:4 - cupbearers; 18:31 - God moved them; Ezra 6:6 - be ye far; 9:8 - grace hath; Nehemiah 2:4 - So I prayed; 2:6 - So it pleased; Esther 5:2 - she; Psalm 102:17 - He will; Proverbs 3:6 - In; 16:1 - preparations; 29:26 - ruler's favour; Jeremiah 40:5 - or go; 42:12 - General; Daniel 1:9 - General; 1 Timothy 2:2 - kings