John Trapp on Nehemiah 1:2

Verſe 2. That Hanani] A gracious man, according to his Name; and zealous for his Countrey; which indeed is a mans ſelf; and therefore when our Saviour uſed that proverb Phyſician heal thy ſelf, the ſenſe is, heal thy Countrey, Luk. 4.23.

Out of my brethren] Not by race, perhaps; but ſurely by grace, and place: a Jew, and that inwardly, and therefore entruſted after this, by Nehemiah with a great charge, Neh, 7. ver. 2.

Came, he, and certain men of Judah] Upon ſome great ſuit likely, for their Countrey; becauſe they took ſo long and troubleſome a journey in the Winter, not without that Roman reſolution of Pompey in like caſe, Neceſſe eſt ut eam, non ut vivam. Whatever their buſineſſe was, theſe men had better ſucceſſe then afterwards, Philo the Jew and his Colleagues had in their Embaſſy to Cajus the Emperour: who caſt them out with contempt, and would not hear their apology againſt Appion of Alexandria, their deadly Enemy.

And I asked them concerning the Jewes] The Church was his care: neither could he enjoy ought ſo long as it went ill with Zion. He was even ſick of the affliction of Joſeph; and glad he had got any of whom to enquire: he asked them, not out of an itch after newes; but of an earneſt deſire to know how it fared with Gods poor people, that he might cum ſingulis pectus ſuum copulare, as Cyprian ſpeaketh, rejoyce with them that rejoyced, and weep with thoſe that wept, Rom. 12.15. a ſure ſigne of a ſound member.

Which were left of the captivity] One of whom he well knew to be more worth then a rabble of Rebels, a World of wicked perſons: As the Jews uſe to ſay of thoſe ſeventy ſouls that went down with Jacob into Egypt, that they were better worth, then all the ſeventy Nations of the World beſides.