Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:3
3. Let the king live forever A common form of royal salutation. Compare marginal references. The city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres A touching allusion, calculated to affect the hearts both of the king and the queen. Nehemiah here calls Jerusalem, literally, the house of the graves of his fathers, and hence it has been inferred that he was of the seed of David, whose royal sons were “buried in the city of David,” (1 Kings 14:31; 1 Kings 15:24, etc.;) so that city was, in fact,... read more
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:2
2. I was… sore afraid The king’s question was probably altogether unexpected, and coming on that public occasion, when the queen was also present, (Nehemiah 2:6,) and, perhaps, many nobles of the court, he was filled with confusion, and feared that the presenting of his cause on such an occasion might expose it to failure, and himself to scorn and punishment. Perhaps he feared, too, that the king might suspect some foul designs in his heart. read more