Nehemiah, one of the Hebrew exiles, occupied a position of influence and honor in the Persian court. As cupbearer to the king he was admitted freely to the royal presence. By virtue of his position, and because of his abilities and fidelity, he had become the monarch's friend and counselor. The recipient of royal favor, however, though surrounded by pomp and splendor, did not forget his God nor his people. With deepest interest his heart turned toward Jerusalem; his hopes and joys were bound up with her prosperity. Through this man, prepared by his residence in the Persian court for the work to which he was to be called, God purposed to bring blessing to His people in the land of their fathers.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over Neh 1 og 2
Nehemias, som var en af de hebraiske flygtninge, beklædte en indflydelsesrig og ærefuld stilling ved det persiske hof. Han var kongelig mundskænk og havde direkte adgang til kongen. Takket være sin stilling, sine fremragende evner og sin troskab var han blevet kongens ven og rådgiver. Skønt han nød kongens gunst og var omgivet af pomp og pragt, glemte han dog ikke sin Gud eller sit folk. Han nærede en brændende interesse for Jerusalem. Han kunne kun være forhåbningsfuld og glad, når det gik denne by godt. Gud besluttede at benytte denne mand, som var blevet uddannet til sin fremtidige livsgerning ved det persiske hof, til at velsigne sit folk i deres fædres land.