We associate prayer with speaking and hence with ears. Nehemiah mentions also eyes because his prayer was accompanied by fasting (Nehemiah 1:4). God should notice the intensity of feeling behind the words, a feeling so deep that Nehemiah has no appetite. Further, Solomon concluded the prayer he prayed at the dedication of the temple (where he echoed the same words from Deuteronomy 7:9 that Nehemiah quoted; see 2 Chronicles 6:14) with these words: Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place
(2 Chronicles 6:40). The Lord in turn reassured the king that my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place
(2 Chronicles 7:15). By opting to pray God’s own words back to him, Nehemiah clearly seeks to have God recall his own promise.
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.