we were. Or, supply the Ellipsis "we [are]".
bondmen. The subjects of the Persians (Nehemiah 9:36).
mercy. lovingkindness, or grace.
kings of Persia. See App-57.
to repair the desolations. Compare Nehemiah 1:2; Nehemiah 1:3.
give us. wall. This helps to prove that the task of Nehemiah had already been effected. See the Structure on p. 617, notes on p. 618, and App-58.