Nehemiah 2:2-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1-8

When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words (Ps. 51:18; Build thou the walls of Jerusalem), he did not sit still and say, ?Let God now do his own work, for I have no more to do,? but set himself to forecast what he could do towards it. Our prayers must be seconded with our serious endeavours, else we mock God. Nearly four months passed, from Chisleu to Nisan (from November to March), before Nehemiah made his application to the king for leave to go to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:2

Wherefore the king said unto me, why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick ?.... He had no disorder upon him to change his countenance and make him sorrowful, and therefore asks what should be the reason of it: this is nothing else but sorrow of heart; this is not owing to any bodily disease or pain, but some inward trouble of mind; or "wickedness of heart" F16 רע לב πονηρια καρδιας , Sept. "malum nescio quod in corde tuo est", V. L. , some ill design in his mind,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:3

And I said unto the king, let the king live for ever ,.... Which some think he said to take off the king's suspicion of his having a design upon his life, though it seems to be a common salutation of the kings in those times, see Daniel 6:6 , why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire ? a man's native place, and where his ancestors lie interred, being always reckoned near and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:4

Then the king said unto me, for what dost thou make request ?.... The king supposed that there was a meaning in those looks and words of his, that he had a favour to ask of him, and therefore encourages him to it; or the king of himself moved this, as being desirous of doing anything for him he would propose, to make him easy: so I prayed to the God of heaven ; secretly, in an ejaculatory way, giving him thanks for thus disposing the king's heart towards him, and entreating he might be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:5

And I said unto the king; if it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight ,.... He submits what he had to say wholly to the pleasure of the king, and puts it upon his unmerited favour, and not on any desert of his own: that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it ; the wall of it, and the houses in it; the favour was, that he might have leave to go thither, and set about such a work, for which he was so much... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:2

Then I was very sore afraid - Probably the king spoke as if he had some suspicion that Nehemiah harboured some bad design, and that his face indicated some conceived treachery or remorse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:3

Let the king live for ever - Far from wishing ill to my master, I wish him on the contrary to live and prosper for ever. Aelian, Hist. Var. lib. i. c. 32, uses the same form of speech in reference to Artaxerxes Mnemon, one of the Persian kings, Βασιλευ Αρταξερξη, δι ' αιωνος βασιλευοις , "O King Artaxerxes, may you reign for ever," when speaking of the custom of presenting them annually with an offering of earth and water; as if they had said, May you reign for ever over these! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:4

So I prayed to the God of heaven - Before he dared to prefer his request to the king, he made his prayer to God, that his suit might be acceptable: and this he does by mental prayer. To the spirit of prayer every place is a praying place. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:5

The city of my fathers ' sepulchres - The tombs of the dead were sacred among the ancients, and nothing could appear to them more detestable than disturbing the ashes or remains of the dead. Nehemiah knew that in mentioning this circumstance he should strongly interest the feelings of the Persian king. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1-8

Prayer answered. Three or four months bad passed since Nehemiah first heard of the distressed condition of his brethren at Jerusalem, and began to pray for them, and that he might be permitted to visit and relieve them. So long the answer to his prayer was delayed. But he doubtless continued to pray, and at length the answer came. Meanwhile, he would be able to ripen his plans, and prepare himself for his enterprise. Notice— I. THE OPPORTUNITY AT LENGTH AFFORDED HIM .... read more

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