MPV Commentary

Nehemiah, Understanding the Afflicted State of Jerusalem.

1. Nehemiah son of Hachaliah is a devout and patriotic Jew who must be distinguished from two other individuals with the same name. One of these men assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:16), while the other was part of the group that accompanied Zerubbabel on his return to Judah (Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7). Although little is known about his ancestry, it's likely that he descended from the tribe of Judah and the royal family of David.

He arrived in Jerusalem in the month of Chisleu, which corresponds to late November or early December. This was a time when the Persian kings would often reside in Shushan, the palace, located in ancient Susiana east of the Tigris River and within the province of Persia.

2-3. Hanani, one of my relatives, came with some men from Judah. Although he is referred to as Nehemiah's brother (Nehemiah 7:2), it's possible that this term was used loosely among Jews and others in the region, indicating only a familial connection rather than a blood relationship. According to Josephus, Nehemiah overheard some people speaking Hebrew while walking around the palace walls. He discovered they had recently returned from Judea and asked them about Jerusalem's condition. They informed him that the city was still unfinished and desolate, with its defenses in shambles. The previous commissions given to Zerubbabel and Ezra only covered repairing the temple and private homes; as a result, the walls and gates of the city remained in ruins, just as they had been left after the Chaldean siege.