# In the month of Nisan

"Nisan" is the name of the first month of the Hebrew calendar. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-hebrewmonths]])

# in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king

"in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal]])

# Now

This word is used here to mark a break in the main story line. Here Nehemiah tells background information about his demeanor before the king. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background]])