\\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\\.