Nehemiah 1:1-3--Report from Jerusalem

Nehemiah 1:1-3
English Standard Version

Report from Jerusalem
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

​Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that 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 and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

---

Nehemiah was the cupbearer of the king--a very important position where he was trusted to taste the king's food and drink and make sure that it wasn't poisoned.  If it was, he would die first.  As such, the cupbearer is a person the king trusts completely.  We'll see why this is important next time.

The stories of Ezra and Nehemiah overlap a bit.  We see here that Nehemiah receives word that some of the exiles have returned to Jerusalem (probably the first group to go back with Ezra) and have sent back a report about Jerusalem.   The report is not good--the remnant there are in great trouble and shame, and the walls of Jerusalem are broken down and the gates destroyed with fire so that the people have no defense from the enemies outside that want to destroy them.  We know from what we read in the book of Ezra that there are many such enemies.

Nehemiah is going to be visibly upset by this news (not a good thing for someone who has to stand in front of the king, as you are always supposed to look your best before the king), but that is where we will start next time.  Nehemiah will not be able to hide his grief and the king who cares deeply about him will ask him what is wrong.  God will once again use a Persian king to accomplish his purpose in rebuilding the city that bears His name and rebuilding His people as well.