1 The words ofach. 10:1 Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month ofbZech. 7:1 Chislev,cch. 2:1 in the twentieth year, as I was indEsth. 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5 Susa the capital,1Or the fortified city 2 thatech. 7:2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble andfch. 2:17 shame.gch. 2:13; 2 Kgs. 25:10 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down,hch. 2:3, 13, 17 and its gates are destroyed by fire. ”
4 As soon as I heard these words Ii[Ezra 9:3] sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before thejch. 2:4 God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven,kch. 9:32; Dan. 9:4; [Deut. 7:21] the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 lDan. 9:18; [1 Kgs. 8:29; 2 Chr. 6:40] let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants,mEzra 10:1; Dan. 9:20 confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Evenn[Ps. 106:6] I and my father's house have sinned. 7 oDan. 9:5 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rulespDeut. 28:15 that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful,qLev. 26:33; Deut. 28:64; See Deut. 4:25-27 I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 rLev. 26:39-42; Deut. 4:29-31; 30:2, 3 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them,sDeut. 30:4 though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring themtDeut. 12:5 to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there. ’ 10 uDeut. 9:29 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord,l[See ver. 6 above] let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. ” Now I wasv[ch. 2:1] cupbearer to the king.