Did Nehemiah Really Pray and Fast for 4 Months?

[iPray]

Hello,

I've been studying Nehemiah 1. It says in verse 4:
"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days, I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."

It says "for some days." How come these commentaries that I'm reading say that Nehemiah prayed and fasted for four months? I'm so confused...
please help

 

[Saint Polycarp]

It's an opinion. Here's one of them: That period of "some days" is probably four months. In 1:1 he says, "In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year...." In 2:1, when he begins to take action, he refers to the month of Nisan, four months later. In a moment we're going to read a prayer that is probably a distillation of what took place in the four months he wept and mourned and fasted and prayed. He went back time and again to be with God. He didn't understand and he wanted answers. He didn't take the easy way out. As Jacob wrestled with the angel and said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26), Nehemiah wrestled with God and said, "I need some answers from you. The burden is heavy. The direction is not obvious." For four months he spent time with the Lord in this way. Verse 6 says he prayed "day and night."

 

[iPray]

Ohhhh. I'm kinda new at studying the Bible. So he started praying and fasting in the month of Kislev and told the Persian king about his distress of Jersualem in the month of Nisan. So between those times, he fasted and prayed for four months. ahhhh
Thank you so much!
God bless

 

[pilgrimgal]

We need to always keep in mind that the bible was not written in our day so expressions there often have more meaning than our English translations can convey. Obviously the expression "for some days" did and scholars have determined that this did generally referred to a four month period.

The thing to grasp though is that Nehemiah prevailed in prayer. Because of that he was given the strength to organize the people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem as a reading of the Book of Nehemiah tells the story. And we are also to prevail in prayer on a regular daily basis ..especially when pressing in to our own ministry and following our call from God.

 

[iPray]

Ohh. I'm studying Nehemiah to understand what a true leader is. And definitely praying everyday helps me focus on Him.
Thanks pilgrimgal for your insight.