Néhémie 1

1 Paroles de Néhémie, fils de Hacalia. Il arriva au mois de Kisleu, la vingtième année (du règne d'Artaxerxès), comme j'étais à Suse, la capitale,

2 Que Hanani, l'un de mes frères, et quelques gens arrivèrent de Juda; et je m'enquis d'eux touchant les Juifs réchappés, qui étaient de reste de la captivité, et touchant Jérusalem.

3 Et ils me dirent: Ceux qui sont restés de la captivité, sont là, dans la province, dans une grande misère et dans l'opprobre; la muraille de Jérusalem est en ruine, et ses portes ont été consumées par le feu.

4 Lorsque j'eus entendu ces paroles, je m'assis, je pleurai, et je fus dans le deuil plusieurs jours; je jeûnai, et je fis ma prière devant le Dieu des cieux;

5 Et je dis: Je te prie, Éternel, Dieu des cieux! Dieu grand et redoutable, qui gardes l'alliance et la miséricorde à ceux qui t'aiment et qui observent tes commandements;

6 Je te prie, que ton oreille soit attentive, et que tes yeux soient ouverts, pour entendre la prière que ton serviteur te présente en ce temps-ci, jour et nuit, pour les enfants d'Israël tes serviteurs, en faisant confession des péchés des enfants d'Israël, que nous avons commis contre toi; car moi-même et la maison de mon père, nous avons péché.

7 Certainement, nous nous sommes rendus coupables devant toi, et nous n'avons pas gardé les commandements, les lois et les ordonnances que tu prescrivis à Moïse, ton serviteur.

8 Souviens-toi, je te prie, de la parole que tu chargeas Moïse, ton serviteur, de dire: Vous commettrez des crimes, et je vous disperserai parmi les peuples;

9 Puis vous retournerez à moi, vous garderez mes commandements, et vous les observerez. Alors, quand vous auriez été chassés jusqu'à l'extrémité des cieux, je vous rassemblerai de là, et je vous ramènerai au lieu que j'ai choisi pour y faire habiter mon nom.

10 Or, ceux-ci sont tes serviteurs et ton peuple, que tu as racheté par ta grande puissance et par ta main forte.

11 Je te prie, Seigneur! que ton oreille soit attentive à la prière de ton serviteur, et à la prière de tes serviteurs qui prennent plaisir à craindre ton nom. Fais, je te prie, prospérer aujourd'hui ton serviteur, et fais qu'il trouve grâce devant cet homme. Or j'étais échanson du roi.

Néhémie 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

The Old Testament history closes with the book of Nehemiah, wherein is recorded the workings of his heart, in the management of public affairs; with many devout reflections.

Nehemiah's distress for the misery of Jerusalem, His prayer.

- Nehemiah was the Persian king's cup-bearer. When God has work to do, he will never want instruments to do it with. Nehemiah lived at ease, and in honour, but does not forget that he is an Israelite, and that his brethren are in distress. He was ready to do them all the good offices he could; and that he might know how best to do them a kindness, he makes inquiries about them. We should inquire especially concerning the state of the church and religion. Every Jerusalem on this side the heavenly one will have some defect, which will require the help and services of its friends. Nehemiah's first application was to God, that he might have the fuller confidence in his application to the king. Our best pleas in prayer are taken from the promise of God, the word on which he has caused us to hope. Other means must be used, but the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails most. Communion with God will best prepare us for our dealings with men. When we have intrusted our concerns to God, the mind is set at liberty; it feels satisfaction and composure, and difficulties vanish. We know that if the affair be hurtful, he can easily hinder it; and if it be good for us, he can as easily forward it.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH

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 9:7, calls it Ezra, so the Talmud {a}; and it has been quoted by Christian writers under his name; see the argument of the book of Ezra; but not as if it was written by him; for it is a clear case it was written by Nehemiah, whose name it bears, as appears from Ne 1:1 and throughout Nehemiah speaks of himself under the first person; and the style also is very different from that of Ezra, being plainer and easier than his. It has always had a place in the canon of Scriptures, both with Jews and Christians; and is of use to show the fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah, and especially of Daniel concerning the building of the wall of Jerusalem in troublesome times; to carry on the history of the Jews, and describe the state of the church in those times, what opposition was made to it, and what enemies it had, and what must be expected when any work of God is set about; it is the last of the historical books that was written, as is thought, and contains an history of the space of about twelve years, from the twentieth of Artaxerxes to the thirty second of his reign, see \Ne 1:1 2:1 13:6\.

{a} T. Bab. Succah, fol. 37. 1. & Gloss. in ib. fol. 12. 1.

\\INTRODUCTION NEHEMIAH 1\\

This chapter relates how that Nehemiah, being at Shushan in Persia, and meeting with some Jews, inquired of the state of Jerusalem, of which having a melancholy account, he betook to mourning, fasting, and prayer, Ne 1:1-4, and his prayer is recorded, Ne 1:5-11.