This book is, by the authors of the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions, called the “Second” Book of Ezra, it being a continuation of the same history, and was by the Jews reckoned as one book with Ezra; Kimchi on Isa.

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah Or his transactions and deeds; for (דברי) “dibre” signifies things done, as well as words spoken; who Hachaliah his father was is not known; the Arabic version adds, the high priest, without any foundation; though some have thought that Nehemiah was a…

That Hanani, one of my brethren Either in natural relation, , or being a Jew of the same nation and religion; so Jarchi interprets it, one of my companions or acquaintance: he and certain men of Judah; who came from thence to Shushan on some account or another: and I asked them concerning the Jews…

And they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province In Judea, now reduced to a province of the Persian empire: are in great affliction and reproach; harassed and distressed, calumniated and vilified, by their enemies the Samaritans: the wall of Jerusalem also is…

And it came to pass, when I heard these words This sad and melancholy account of things: that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; sat down upon the ground in dust and ashes, after the manner of mourners, and wept bitterly, and mourned in a most sorrowful manner, see (Job 2:8, Job 2:12,…

And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven He prayed not to the host of heaven, the sun in it, as the Persians, but to the God of it, in an humble supplicant manner: the great and terrible God; who is to be feared, and had in reverence of all his creatures, because of his greatness and glory,…

Let thine ear be now attentive To his prayer, as in , and thine eyes open; to behold with pity and compassion the distressed case of Jerusalem, and the Jews in it: I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants; this he had continued to do ever since he heard of…

We have dealt very corruptly against thee Corrupted his covenant, laws, and precepts, as well as themselves, ways, and works; all which were against the Lord, contrary to his nature, mind, and will: and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy…

Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses To publish and declare to the children of Israel, , saying, if ye transgress; the law of God: I will scatter you abroad among the nations; as now they had been among the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians.

But if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them Return by repentance, and, as a proof of the genuineness of it, yield obedience to the commands of God, and continue therein: though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven; that is, the uttermost parts of the…

Now these are thy servants, and thy people Meaning those that were in Jerusalem and Judah, gathered out of several countries, and returned to Jerusalem: whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand; touching and moving the heart of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to them.

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant To the prayer of Nehemiah, put up at this time: and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name; the prayer of the Jews in Judea, whose desire was to worship the Lord in his temple, according to his…