_A.M. 3559. B.C. 445._ Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem, with a commission to build the wall, Nehemiah 2:1. He comes thither, to the grief of his enemies, Nehemiah 2:9. He secretly views the ruins of it, Nehemiah 2:12. He informs the rulers of his commission, Nehemiah 2:17; Nehemiah 2:18. Ans... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the month Nisan_ Which answers to part of our March and April. So that there were almost four months between the time of his hearing the fore-mentioned sad tidings respecting the defenceless condition in which Jerusalem lay, and his requesting leave of the king to go thither. The reason of this... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, Why is thy countenance sad?_ His fasting, joined with inward grief, had made a sensible change in his countenance. _Then I was sore afraid_ It was an unusual and ungracious thing to come into the king of Persia's presence with any token of sorrow. And he feared a disappointment, beca... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the king live for ever_ My sadness comes not from any disaffection to the king, for whom my hearty prayers are that he may live for ever, but from another cause. _Why should I not be sad, when the place of my fathers' sepulchres lieth waste?_ Which by all nations are esteemed sacred and inviola... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the king said, For what dost thou make request?_ Something thou wouldest have, what is it? The king had an affection for him, and was not pleased to see him dejected, and thus gave him encouragement to tell his mind. _So I prayed to the God of heaven_ I silently in my mind besought God to dire... [ Continue Reading ]
_I said, If it please the king_, &c. My request, whatever it is, I humbly and wholly submit to the king's good pleasure, in which I am resolved to acquiesce. _If thy servant have found favour in thy sight_ I plead no merit, but humbly supplicate thy grace and favour, of which, having received some t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The queen also sitting by him_ Which is here noted as an unusual thing, for commonly the kings of Persia dined alone; and perhaps because the queen expressed some kindness to him, and promoted his request. _How long shall thy journey be?_ This question showed the king's affection for him, and that... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they may convey me over till I come into Judah_ May conduct me with safety through their several territories, and furnish me with necessaries on my journey. _And a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest_ The forest of Lebanon, famous for choice trees. _That he may give me timber fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me_ This the king had done over and above what Nehemiah had desired; and it procured him the greater respect from the governors, when they saw the care which the king took for the safety of his person.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanballat the Horonite_ So called either from the place of his birth or residence, which is supposed to have been Horonaim, an eminent city of Moab. This Sanballat was the person who afterward instigated Alexander the Great to build the temple of Gerizim, in order to occasion a division among the J... [ Continue Reading ]
_I arose in the night_ Concealing both his intentions and actions as far and as long as he could, as knowing that the life of his business lay in secrecy and expedition. _Neither was there any beast with me_, &c. To prevent noise, and that no notice might be taken of what he did.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I went out by night_ The footmen who accompanied him directing and leading him in the way. His design was to go around the city, to observe the compass and condition of the walls and gates, that he might make sufficient provisions for the work. _By the gate of the valley_ Of which see Nehemiah 3:13... [ Continue Reading ]
_I went on to the gate of the fountain_ That is, which led to the fountain, to wit, of Siloah or Gihon. _And to the king's pool_ That which King Hezekiah had made, of which see 2 Chronicles 32:3. _But there was no place for the beast_, &c. The way being obstructed with heaps of rubbish. _Then went I... [ Continue Reading ]
_That we be no more a reproach_ Exposed to the scorn and insults of the people around about. _I told them of the hand of my God,_ &c. That is, he informed them how favourable God had made the king to him, and what discourse he had had with him, and what authority and commission he had received from... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem_, &c. These three seem to have been chief men among the Samaritans, and perhaps were invested with some offices or authority by the king of Persia. _You have no portion nor right_ Do not trouble yourselves about this matter, who have no possession among us, no aut... [ Continue Reading ]