THE WORDS OF NEHEMIAH THE SON OF HACHALIAH - The prophetical books commence generally with a title of this kind (see Jeremiah 1:1); but no other extant historical book begins thus. Nehemiah, while attaching his work to Ezra, perhaps marked in this manner the point at which his own composition commen... [ Continue Reading ]
Hanani seems to have been an actual brother of Nehemiah Nehemiah 7:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
The attempt to rebuild the wall in the time of the Pseudo-Smerdis Ezra 4:12 had been stopped. It still remained in ruins. The Assyrian sculptures show that it was the usual practice to burn the gates.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF HEAVEN - This title of the Almighty, which is Persian rather than Jewish (see 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:2 note; Ezra 6:10; Ezra 7:12, Ezra 7:21), is a favorite one with Nehemiah, who had been born and brought up in Persia.... [ Continue Reading ]
A Persian king had numerous cup-bearers, each of whom probably discharged the office in his turn.... [ Continue Reading ]