1:1 1 These are the words of Nehemiah 2 son of Hacaliah:
It so happened that in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, 3 I was in Susa 4 the citadel.
1:4 When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, 5 crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
6:8 I sent word back to him, “We are not engaged in these activities you are describing. 6 All of this is a figment of your imagination.” 7
6:14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in light of these actions of theirs – also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to scare me!
12:12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the priests who were leaders of the families: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
1 sn In ancient Judaism Ezra and Nehemiah were regarded as a single book with dual authorship. According to the Talmud, “Ezra wrote his book” (b. Bava Batra 15a). The Gemara then asks and answers, “And who finished it? Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.” Accordingly, the two are joined in the Leningrad Codex (ca.
2 sn The name Nehemiah in Hebrew (נְחֶמְיָה, nÿkhemyah) means “the
3 tn That is, the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign (cf. 2:1).
4 tn Heb “Shushan.”
5 tn Heb “sat down.” Context suggests that this was a rather sudden action, resulting from the emotional shock of the unpleasant news, so “abruptly” has been supplied in the present translation.
6 tn Heb “We are not according to these matters that you are saying.”
7 tn Heb “For from your heart you are inventing them.”