Nehemiah, who was a Jewish captive in the Persian Empire, served as the cupbearer to the king. This was an important position in ancient times as the cupbearer was responsible for tasting the king's wine and food before serving it to ensure that it was not poisoned. The cupbearer also had the opportunity to be close to the king and could therefore function as an adviser or secretary. In Nehemiah's case, he used his position to request permission from the king to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls, and he was also appointed as the governor of the region.