Nehemiah 2:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1-8

Gaining the cause. It was a time of great suspense, hardest of all things for human hearts to bear. The future of Jerusalem now hung on the building of the wall, and this depended on Nehemiah's personal interposition and upon Artaxerxes' pleasure. When great events depend on a single circumstance, issues deep and grave on the charge of a regiment, on the skill of a statesman, on the caprice of a king, we may well wait in anxiety. Nothing could be done now for Jerusalem, speaking humanly,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1-8

These verses describe the circumstances in which Nehemiah obtained his commission as restorer of Jerusalem. They show that he was prospered, and that his prosperity was due to the blessing of God. We may notice— I. The REWARD OF FAITH IN THE ANSWER TO PRAYER . 1. The faith was tried by waiting . Opportunity must not be made by hasty, presumptuous attempts to command events, but by watching Providence. Nehemiah still prayed, and then on a certain day he could say, It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:2

The king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad? This "kindly question" put by the great king to his humble retainer is his best claim to the favourable judgment of later ages. History puts him before us as a weak monarch, one who could compromise the royal dignity by making terms with a revolted subject, while he disgraced it by breaking faith with a conquered enemy. But if weak as a king, as a man he was kind-hearted and gentle. Few Persian monarchs would have been sufficiently... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:2

Sorrow and its Consoler. "This is nothing else but sorrow of heart." I. SORROW OF HEART MAY CO - EXIST WITH EXTERNAL WELL - BEING . Nehemiah was healthy, honoured, rich, yet sad. So are many in similar circumstances. The sorrows of sympathy, patriotism, and piety, as Nehemiah's were; those of penitence or remorse; of wounded affection or disappointed confidence; those occasioned by family troubles, etc; may invade the hearts of the most prosperous. And it is well... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:3

May the king live for ever . A common form of Oriental compliment ( 1 Kings 1:31 ; Daniel 2:4 ; Daniel 3:9 , etc. ), but said now with special intention to conciliate, and meant to express a deep interest in the royal life and person. The city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres . We see by this that Nehemiah's family must have belonged to the capital. The Persians, like the Jews, had a great respect for the tomb, and regarded its violation with horror. Artaxerxes would naturally... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:3

Sadness, when and how far justifiable. "Why should not my countenance be sad?" I. SADNESS IS OFTEN JUSTIFIABLE , OR EVEN COMMENDABLE . 1. Under great troubles. Stoicism is neither natural nor Christian. Troubles are meant to trouble us. If they do not, they afford no trial to faith and patience, and cannot effect their purpose for discipline and improvement. 2. Under the consciousness of sin. In view of its essential evil as committed against God, his rights,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:4

Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? Artaxerxes understood that a complaint was contained in Nehemiah's speech, and that he must have a request to make. With gracious kindliness he facilitates its utterance. So I prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah was emphatically a man of prayer. In every danger, in every difficulty, still more at any crisis, prayer rose to his lips (see Nehemiah 4:4 , Nehemiah 4:9 ; Nehemiah 5:19 ; Nehemiah 6:9 , Nehemiah 6:14 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:4

Ejaculatory prayer. "So I prayed to the God of heaven." Nehemiah, saddened by the report he had received of the condition of the Jews who had returned to their land, had formed a purpose to visit them, that he might encourage them, and take the lead in fortifying the city, and putting affairs into a more hopeful condition. His doing so depended on the consent of the monarch whose cupbearer he was, and his obtaining a commission from him. Already he had prayed for success in his intended... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:6

The queen . It appears from Ctesias ('Exc. Pers.,' § 44) that Artaxerxes Longimanus had but one legitimate wife—a certain Damaspia. Nothing more is known of her besides this mention, and the fact that she died on the same day as her husband. Sitting by him . Not an unusual circumstance. Though, when the monarch entertained guests, the queen remained in her private apartments ( Esther 1:9-12 ), yet on other occasions she frequently took her meals with him. I set him a time . Nehemiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 2:7

Let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river . It is not quite clear why no letters were needed to the governors between Susa and the Euphrates. Perhaps, while travelling was safe, at any rate with an escort, in the more central provinces, beyond the river it became unsafe (see Ezra 8:31 ). read more

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