1. Nehemiah 1:1–11 (ESV)
  2. Structure and outline

The structure of Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah 1:1–11 (ESV)

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,

Aside from the heading (Nehemiah 1:1), this chapter consists of two parts:

  • a report about circumstances in Jerusalem

  • Nehemiah’s response to this report

His response in turn breaks down into two parts:

  • Nehemiah’s emotional response

  • Nehemiah’s prayer

Once again, his prayer is first a prayer for the people of Israel (Nehemiah 1:5–10) and then a petition for himself (Nehemiah 1:11). The paragraph ends with a brief note about Nehemiah’s occupation.