Nehemiah's Prayer Concerning Jerusalem

Anana's message is a profoundly discouraging one. Some work had already been undertaken to rebuild the walls of the city and re establish its fortifications in the near centuries since cyrus's decree. Earlier, in the reign of articxerxes, in events mentioned in ezra chapter four, work on the refortification of jerusalem was halted by the king. Presumably, the parts of the wall that had been rebuilt were largely demolished and burnt down. Nehemiah responds with days of fasting, mourning and weeping. In describing his prayer, he seems to d to solomon's prayer at the dedication of his temple. We might especially hear the words of first kings, chapter eight