Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 13:6
But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
6. was not I ] R.V. I was not.
the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes ] i.e. b.c. 433, twelve years since his appointment to be governor of Judea (Neh 2:6).
king of Babylon ] For this title applied to Artaxerxes king of Persia, cf. Ezr 6:22, ‘the king of Assyria.’ Babylon being by far the largest and most important city in the western portion of the Persian dominion, the expression was a natural one in the lips of a Jew. It hardly affords sufficient foundation for the assumption that king Artaxerxes happened to be residing at Babylon at the time of Nehemiah’s application for leave of absence.
came I ] R.V. I went. We are left to suppose that Nehemiah had some time previously returned from Jerusalem to his post at Susa. That his governorship of Judea was only for a limited period is plainly hinted at by the king’s question in Neh 2:6, ‘And when wilt thou return?’ How long it lasted we are not told with any definiteness. From Neh 5:14 we may assume that he was governor for the greater part of 12 years.
after certain days ] Literally, ‘at the end of days.’ A general expression, denoting a considerable interval. To restrict its meaning to ‘a year’ on the strength of certain passages (e.g. Exo 13:10; Lev 25:29; Num 9:22; Jdg 17:10) gives a very improbable explanation of the phrase, which is often used of a much more considerable period, e.g. ‘in process of time’ Gen 4:3, ‘after a while’ 1Ki 17:7.
obtained I leave] R.V. I asked leave. Perhaps in consequence of disquieting information which had reached him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Artaxerxes king of Babylon – See Neh 1:1. Compare Ezr 6:22, where Darius Hystaspis is called king of Assyria.
After certain days – Or, at the end of a year, which is a meaning that the phrase often has Exo 13:10; Lev 25:29-30; Num 9:22. Nehemiah probably went to the court at Babylon in 433 B.C., and returned to Jerusalem 432 B.C.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Was not I at Jerusalem] Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second year, twelve years: then returned to Babylon, and staid one year; got leave to revisit his brethren; and found matters as stated in this chapter.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All this time was not I at Jerusalem; and Eliashib took the occasion of my absence to do these things, supposing that I would no more return thither.
Came I unto the king, to wit, from Jerusalem; where he had been once and again.
After certain days, Heb. in the end of days, or of a year, as that word oft signifies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6-9. But in all this was not I atJerusalemEliashib (concluding that, as Nehemiah had departedfrom Jerusalem, and, on the expiry of his allotted term of absence,had resigned his government, he had gone not to return) began to usegreat liberties, and, there being none left whose authority or frownhe dreaded, allowed himself to do things most unworthy of his sacredoffice, and which, though in unison with his own irreligiouscharacter, he would not have dared to attempt during the residence ofthe pious governor. Nehemiah resided twelve years as governor ofJerusalem, and having succeeded in repairing and refortifying thecity, he at the end of that period returned to his duties in Shushan.How long [Nehemiah] remained there is not expressly said, but “aftercertain days,” which is a Scripture phraseology for a year or anumber of years, he obtained leave to resume the government ofJerusalem; to his deep mortification and regret, he found matters inthe neglected and disorderly state here described. Such grossirregularities as were practised, such extraordinary corruptions ashad crept in, evidently imply the lapse of a considerable time.Besides, they exhibit the character of Eliashib, the high priest, ina most unfavorable light; for while he ought, by his office, to havepreserved the inviolable sanctity of the temple and its furniture,his influence had been directly exercised for evil; especially he hadgiven permission and countenance to a most indecent outragetheappropriation of the best apartments in the sacred building to aheathen governor, one of the worst and most determined enemies of thepeople and the worship of God. The very first reform Nehemiah on hissecond visit resolved upon, was the stopping of this grossprofanation [by Eliashib]. The chamber which had been polluted by theresidence of the idolatrous Ammonite was, after undergoing theprocess of ritual purification (Nu15:9), restored to its proper usea storehouse for the sacredvessels.
Ne13:10-14. NEHEMIAHREFORMS THE OFFICERSIN THE HOUSE OFGOD.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem,…. Nehemiah, who was absent all the while these things were done by Eliashib, or otherwise they would not have been suffered:
for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, came I unto the king from Jerusalem; after he had governed there twelve years, to whom he came to give an account of affairs there; this was not Xerxes, as some b have thought, for he reigned but twenty one years; but Darius Hystaspis, who reigned thirty six years, according to Ptolemy’s canon, and with which Herodotus c agrees; he is called king of Babylon, because that, with the whole empire, was in the hands of the king of Persia, as it had been from the times of Cyrus:
and after certain days obtained I leave of the king; to return to Jerusalem again; not after five years, as Dr. Prideaux d thinks; for it is not likely that Nehemiah would stay so long ere he asked leave of the king to return to Jerusalem, which was so much his care, and on whose prosperity his heart was so much set; rather at most it was but a full year he stayed ere he got leave to return, as Vatablus and Piscator interpret it; in which sense the phrase of certain days is used in Le 25:29, and in other places quoted by the last mentioned interpreter.
b Apud Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 2. fol. 8. 2. c Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 1. d Connect. par. 1. p. 397.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In all this, i.e., while this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes I went to the king, and after the lapse of some days I entreated the king ( like 1Sa 20:6, 1Sa 20:28). What he entreated is not expressly stated; but it is obvious from what follows, ”and I came to Jerusalem,” that it was permission to return to Judea. Even at his first journey to Jerusalem, Nehemiah only requested leave to make a temporary sojourn there, without giving up his post of royal cup-bearer; comp. Neh 2:5. Hence, after his twelve years’ stay in Jerusalem, he was obliged to go to the king and remain some time at court, and then to beg for fresh leave of absence. How long he remained there cannot be determined, – , after the lapse of days, denoting no definite interval; comp. Gen 4:3. The view of several expositors, that means a year, is devoid of proof. The stay of Nehemiah at court must have lasted longer than a year, since so many illegal acts on the part of the community as Nehemiah on his return discovered to have taken place, could not have occurred in so short a time. Artaxerxes is here called king of Babylon, because the Persian kings had conquered the kingdom of Babylon, and by this conquest obtained dominion over the Jews. Nehemiah uses this title to express also the fact that he had travelled to Babylon.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(6) Was not I at Jerusalem.Parenthetical explanation of this disorderly state of things.
King of Babylon.Probably it was at Babylon that Nehemiah found the court, and therefore he does not say King of Persia.
After certain days.The time is left indefinite. But the two and thirtieth year shows that he had been in Jerusalem twelve years before his return to the king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. All this time was not I at Jerusalem Else such profanation of the temple would not have been tolerated.
Two and thirtieth year After having been governor of Jerusalem for twelve years. See Neh 5:14.
King of Babylon Artaxerxes is so called, because he ruled all the dominions of the ancient kingdom of Babylon. See note on Ezr 6:22.
Came I unto the king When Nehemiah left the Persian court he set a time for his return, Neh 2:6, note. The time originally set may have been extended, but after twelve years’ absence, loyalty to the king required his return to the court.
After certain days Hebrew, at the end of days; an indefinite period, perhaps several years.
Obtained I leave The Hebrew indicates that he obtained leave of absence this second time only by an earnest petitioning. See margin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 13:6 But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
Ver. 6. But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem ] And thence it was that things grew so far out of order. So when Moses was gone into the mount, the people set up the golden calf; they turned aside quickly, saith God, Exo 32:8 . So were the Corinthians and Galatians so soon as St Paul’s back was but turned upon them, Gal 1:6 , Levitate prorsus desultoria. And so were these Jews, notwithstanding their better purposes, promises, covenants; yea, and beginnings of reformation. See Neh 10:30 .
And after certain days
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
See Neh 13:4 for a special note.
not I at Jerusalem. Nehemiah did not return with Haggai and Zachariah at the beginning of this reign. See longer note on Neh 13:4.
the two and thirtieth year. See longer note on Neh 13:4.
Artaxerxes = Darius Hystaspis. See longer note on Neh 5:14, Neh 13:4.
obtained I leave = I earnestly requested. Hebrew. sha’al. See note on “enquire”, 1Sa 28:6, 1Sa 28:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
But: Exo 32:1, 2Ch 24:17, 2Ch 24:18, Mat 13:25
was: Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second, being twelve years; then returned to Babylon; and probably, after about a year, got leave to revisit his brethren, and found matters as here stated.
the two: Neh 2:1, Neh 5:14
after certain days: Heb. at the end of days, Neh 2:5, Neh 2:6
obtained I: or, I earnestly requested
Reciprocal: Gen 4:3 – in process of time 2Ch 18:2 – after certain years
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 13:6. But in all this time was I not at Jerusalem Which gave Eliashib the opportunity of doing these things; for unless Nehemiah had been absent, he durst not have done them. For in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, came I unto the king Namely, from Jerusalem, where he had been once and again; and after certain days obtained I leave of the king To return to Jerusalem. In the Hebrew it is, At the end of days; that is, at the years end: for so the word , jamim, (days,) often signifies in Scripture.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:6 But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of {d} Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
(d) Called also Darius, Ezr 6:1.