Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.
Please listen carefully and pay attention to the prayer of your servant, which I am praying to you now, day and night, for the people of Israel who serve you. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you - both I and my family have sinned.
Nehemiah is asking God to listen as he prays continuously for his people Israel, humbly admitting that both he and his nation have sinned against God.
📚 Historical Context
In the 5th century BC, Nehemiah was a Jewish exile serving as a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, a position of trust in the royal court. He received distressing news about the ruined walls of Jerusalem and the suffering of his fellow Jews, which led him to pray fervently for God's intervention. In this prayer, Nehemiah confesses the sins of the Israelites, including his own family's, as an act of humility and repentance before seeking divine help.
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