John Gill, on Neh 1:2

“That Hanani one of my brethren came, he and some men of Juda; and I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.”

“That Hanani, one of my brethren,.... Either in natural relation, Neh 7:2, or being a Jew of the same nation and religion; so Jarchi interprets it, one of my companions or acquaintance: he and certain men of Judah; who came from thence to Shushan on some account or another: and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity; who were returned from it to their own land; he inquired of their health and prosperity, in what circumstances they were, whether prosperous or adverse, whether they flourished, or were in distress: and concerning Jerusalem; whether it was rebuilt, the houses and walls of it, and in what condition it was.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.