Nehemiah 13:6

was not I R.V. I was not.

the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes i.e. b.c. 433, twelve years since his appointment to be governor of Judea (Nehemiah 2:6).

king of Babylon For this title applied to Artaxerxes king of Persia, cf. Ezra 6:22, -the king of Assyria." Babylon being by far the largest and most important city in the western portion of the Persian dominion, the expression was a natural one in the lips of a Jew. It hardly affords sufficient foundation for the assumption that king Artaxerxes happened to be residing at Babylon at the time of Nehemiah's application for leave of absence.

came I R.V. I went. We are left to suppose that Nehemiah had some time previously returned from Jerusalem to his post at Susa. That his governorship of Judea was only for a limited period is plainly hinted at by the king's question in Nehemiah 2:6, -And when wilt thou return?" How long it lasted we are not told with any definiteness. From Nehemiah 5:14 we may assume that he was governor for the greater part of 12 years.

after certain days Literally, -at the end of days." A general expression, denoting a considerable interval. To restrict its meaning to -a year" on the strength of certain passages (e.g. Exodus 13:10; Leviticus 25:29; Numbers 9:22; Judges 17:10) gives a very improbable explanation of the phrase, which is often used of a much more considerable period, e.g. -in process of time" Genesis 4:3, -after a while" 1 Kings 17:7.

obtained Ileave] R.V. I asked leave. Perhaps in consequence of disquieting information which had reached him.