Jewish state, containing in it nothing miraculous, nothing particularly exciting or extraordinary. The Jewish community is in a depressed condition; and though external adversaries are resisted, and, on the whole, resisted with suc- cess, no great triumph is achieved, no very remarkable deliverance effected. At the same time, the internal condition of things is far from satisfactory; the evils which Ezra had resisted have recurred, and brought others in their train, which cause those who are at the head of affairs much anxiety. Nehemiah writes in a depressed tone, like a man who is not appreciated by his generation, and who is unhappy. The language which he uses is simple, and somewhat rough, as if he had not enjoyed the advantage of much educaticn. Like that of Ezra and of the writer of the Book of Esther, it contains a good many Persian words. It is, however, Hebrew throughout, with no intermixture of Chaldee. The style, as might be expected from the diversity of source already noticed, is far from being uniform. The lists are bald and dry, as was natural with official documents. The section extending from eh. viii. to the end of eh. x. is free and flowing, betrays the hand of a practised writer, but is not characterised by much originality. On the other hand, the parts written by Nehemiah himself are quite peculiar. Vigorous, rough, strikingly dramatic, and markedly devo- tional in their tone, they show us an author of an original turn, who thought for himself, feH strong1y, and expressed himself tersely and aptly, if with some rudeness. There is no portion of Scripture on which individuality is more impressed than the opening and concluding sections of this composite " Book," which are evidently the direct work of Nehemiah.
§ 5. CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. Nehemiah was the son of Hachaliah, of the tribe of Judah.• He belonged, apparently, to the "Jews of the dispersion," t and, while still a youth, became attached to the Persian court, where his merit, or his appearance, enabled him to obtain the "important and lucrative office of a royal cup bearer." t This position brought him into direct contact with the king and queen of the time, who were Artaxerxes Longimanus and Damaspia. Longimanus had already shown himself friendly to the Jews, and being of a kindly and affable temper, appears to have become attached to his attendant, and to have been on terms of familiarity with him which we should scarcely have expected. Nehemiah relates how, while he was in attendance on the court at Susa, the chief royal residence, he heard of the desolation of Jerusalem through his brother, Hanani, who had recently visited the holy city and seen its sad condition (eh. i. 1-3). Pierced to the heart by the description, he gave himself up for many days to fasting and mourning and prayer. The king for some time did not observe hi,, grief; but after three or four months it had so altered him, that, on his appear- ance one day to take up his term of service, Artaxerxes noticed the change, • See eh. ii. 3, and the comment on it. t Ew11ld, 'History of Israel,' vol. v. p. 159, E. Tr. : Ibid. p. HS iv INTRODUCTION TO