Verse 11
11. Mercy in the sight of this man Favour before king Artaxerxes. Upon hearing of the great affliction and reproach of the Jews at Jerusalem, Nehemiah seems to have conceived the design of obtaining authority from the king to rebuild Jerusalem. This he made a matter of prayer night and day for about four months, (see note on Nehemiah 2:1,) and in these verses we doubtless have the substance of the prayer he offered continually until he obtained his desire.
This man “The mighty monarch of the Persian empire would be addressed by his flatterers as if he were more than man; yet Nehemiah knew that in the sight of God he was upon a level with his meanest subjects.” Scott.
The king’s cupbearer An officer of high rank in the ancient oriental courts, whose business was to take charge of the royal wines, and pour them out and bear them in drinking vessels to the king. In Genesis 40:1, the original word is rendered butler. Rabshakeh is supposed to have held this office in the Assyrian court. See note on 2 Kings 18:17.
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