That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
My brother Hanani came to visit me, along with some other men from Judah. I asked them about the Jewish people who had survived and returned from exile, and I also asked them about the condition of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah is asking his brother and other visitors for news about the Jewish survivors who had returned to Jerusalem and about the city's current condition.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place around 445 BC when Nehemiah was serving as cupbearer to the Persian king in Susa. The Jewish people had been in Babylonian exile for about 70 years, and while some had returned to Jerusalem under leaders like Zerubbabel and Ezra, the city was still in ruins. Nehemiah, though living comfortably in the Persian court, was deeply concerned about his homeland and people.
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