The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev inthe twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of mybrothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about theJewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They saidto me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in greattrouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates havebeen burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven
- Nehemiah 1:1-4
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I hadnot been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, “Why does your facelook so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” Iwas very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies inruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “Whatis it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king,“If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.
- Nehemiah 2:1-5
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this goodwork. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you aredoing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” I answered them bysaying, “The God of heaven will give us success.
-Nehemiah 2:18-20