The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah: The account given by Nehemiah is introduced very briefly. In Hebrew it is only four words: “words [of] Nehemiah son [of] Hacaliah.” A similar form of introduction is found in other Old Testament books (Deut 1.1; Eccl 1.1; Amos 1.1). Translators must use the appropriate form of introduction in their own language. This may be a short formulaic construction that is similar to a heading as in Hebrew or a full sentence as is often used in English and many other translations. Revised Standard Version and many other versions retain a literal translation that is formal and formula-like (also New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Bible en français courant uses the same formal construction but renders it as “Account of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah.” Good News Translation, on the other hand, makes it into a full sentence.

The words is a translation of the plural form of the same Hebrew word davar that is used in Ezra 1.1. It can mean “sayings, account, report,” or “acts.” Revised Standard Version and many other versions retain a literal translation. The Good News Translation translation is based on the last possibility among the meanings cited above. It restructures the sentence to make explicit both “account” and what the account tells of, namely, “what [acts] Nehemiah son of Hacaliah accomplished.”

Nehemiah was a common Hebrew name meaning “the LORD has comforted” (Ezra 2.2; Neh 3.16). Usually translators do not translate this name, but its meaning can be explained in a footnote. Nehemiah is introduced here as the son of Hacaliah and no further introduction of him is given until verse 11 of this chapter. Hacaliah is otherwise unknown in the Scriptures.

After the one sentence introduction of himself, Nehemiah identifies the time and place where he began his report. This emphasizes the historical nature of the account. This information is introduced with the Hebrew word wayyehi, which means “And it was.” It is composed of the connective conjunction and the Hebrew verb that means “to be” or “to happen.” Revised Standard Version renders it Now it happened and King James Version “And it came to pass.” Wayyehi is a common opening expression that may serve as a link with a preceding book or with previous events. This word begins the historical books of Joshua, Judges, and 1-2 Samuel, and the prophetic books of Ezekiel and Jonah. As in Ezra 1.1, the connective conjunction with the temporal construction marks the beginning of the discourse. Good News Translation omits a direct translation of this expression, but other versions attempt to retain it (so New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). It should be translated in the receptor language by an appropriate discourse marker.

The month of Chislev (or, “Kislev”) was the ninth month of the Babylonian calendar (see Zech 7.1; 1 Maccabees 1.54; see also “Translating Ezra and Nehemiah,” pages 25-26). This is the period of time from mid-November to mid-December. Most versions retain the Babylonian word by transliterating it. A few versions use the modern-day equivalent of November-December, but this introduces an anachronism into the translation. If necessary, a footnote can be used in the translation to explain the time of year that was referred to by the name Chislev.

The date is incomplete because the Hebrew text does not state exactly what the twentieth year refers to. Since Neh 2.1 refers to “the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,” it is generally assumed that this refers to that same date. Good News Translation makes this explicit in its translation (also Bible en français courant). The twentieth year of Artaxerxes I was 445 B.C. See the comments at 2.1.

I was in Susa the capital: Nehemiah is speaking in the first person about himself. The Hebrew verb that is translated was does not indicate length of time. The Hebrew does not specify whether Nehemiah is recounting events that took place in the distant past or in the relatively recent past. It simply states that at the time referred to by Nehemiah, he was located in a place called Susa. The translator should use a grammatical form that is appropriate for the telling of a biographical event in past time.

Susa, the ancient capital of Elam, was a seasonal residence of the Achaemenian kings in the winter months (see also Est 1.2). It was one of four Persian capital cities. It was located 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Babylon in the southwestern part of modern Iran. In Hebrew it was known as Shushan (King James Version). From the book of Esther it is clear that Susa referred to both an acropolis or fortress where the king’s palace was situated and a city that was located east of the fortress (see Est 1.2; 3.15). The Hebrew word translated capital by Revised Standard Version means either a palace or a castle. Some versions therefore translate it “the citadel of Susa” (so New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible) as in Est 1.2. However, here it stands more generally for the place where the king lived and ruled and Good News Translation therefore translates “Susa, the capital city” (also Chouraqui, Darby, New English Bible). Bible en français courant renders it “the fortified city of Susa.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .