Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:11
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
11. After his arrival at Jerusalem, Nehemiah waited three days before taking any steps. Ezra had done the same (Ezr 8:32). It was necessary to rest after the journey, and to interchange the formalities of Eastern courtesy with the principal people of the city.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Neh 2:11 to Neh 7:5 . The Commission performed
Neh 2:11-20 . The Work undertaken
The incidents of this passage may be grouped as follows:
( a) 11. Nehemiah’s arrival: ( b) 12 15, His preliminary investigation: ( c) 16 18, the resolution to undertake the work: ( d) 19, 20, Nehemiah and his opponents.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Neh 2:11
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Days of quiet
Some workers of the present day would have sent round the bellman and summoned the leading inhabitants to a preliminary convention within half an hour of their arrival; but there was no such unbelieving hurry-scurry with Nehemiah, and therefore three days were allowed to elapse. It was necessary to recover from the fatigue of the journey. He who is the God of our bodies as well as of our souls knows full well the limit of our powers, and would not have us outrage physical laws, even in seeking to do Him honour. These three days may have been needful also for further prayer and waiting upon God. It may have been also that God would not have him begin work under mere natural impulse or human excitement. Hence the need of three days of quiet. Men under excitement can do wonderful things, whether in storming a redoubt or in conducting what in modem times is called a mission; but God does not want His work done under excitement. Calm and quiet of soul are more favourable to that true reliance upon Him which gives Him all the glory and seeks none for ourselves. (W. P. Lockhart.)
The wisdom of waiting
This interval would no doubt be occupied in reflecting on the difficulties of his enterprise–in maturing his course of procedure. Besides, he was probably in doubt how to proceed, till God revealed to him His will; and for this he needed to make his requests known to Him in prayer. This is ever the discipline of a religious life. A pious writer remarks, I need just as much patience to wait as the lamp needs oil, till the day break, and the shadows flee away. (W. Ritchie.)
Preparatory retirement
Gods servants frequently thus retired for deliberation before entering upon arduous tasks. Moses, Paul, Christ Himself. Nehemiahs retirement–
I. Gave him time to look round.
II. Gave him time to look forward.
III. Gave him time to look within.
IV. Gave him time to look upward. (Homiletic Commentary.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Resting myself after my long journey, and inquiring into the state of the city.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11, 12. So I came to Jerusalem, andwas there three daysDeeply affected with the desolations ofJerusalem, and uncertain what course to follow, he remained threedays before informing any one of the object of his mission [Neh 2:17;Neh 2:18]. At the end of thethird day, accompanied with a few attendants, he made, under covertof night, a secret survey of the walls and gates [Ne2:13-15].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. Before he entered on any business, resting himself from the fatigue of the journey, and receiving the visits of his friends, as Ezra before him did, Ezr 8:32.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Nehemiah’s arrival at Jerusalem. He surveys the wall, and resolves to restore it. – Neh 2:11 Having arrived at Jerusalem and rested three days (as Ezra had also done, Ezr 8:32), he arose in the night, and some few men with him, to ride round the wall of the city, and get a notion of its condition. His reason for taking but few men with him is given in the following sentence: “I had told no man what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.” Although he had come to Jerusalem with the resolution of fortifying the city by restoring its circumvallation, he spoke of this to no one until he had ascertained, by an inspection of the wall, the magnitude and extent of the work to be accomplished. For, being aware of the hostility of Sanballat and Tobiah, he desired to keep his intention secret until he felt certain of the possibility of carrying it into execution. Hence he made his survey of the wall by night, and took but few men with him, and those on foot, for the sake of not exciting attention. The beast on which he rode was either a horse or a mule.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2. On his arrival, he secretly inspects the citys walls.
TEXT, Neh. 2:11-20
11
So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.
12
And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell any one what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.
13
So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragons Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.
14
Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the Kings Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.
15
So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned.
16
And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work.
17
Then I said to them, You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach.
18
And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me, and also about the kings words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, Let us arise and build. So they put their hands to the good work.
19
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?
20
So I answered them and said to them, The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.
COMMENT
In Neh. 2:11, the three days may be compared with Ezras after a similar journey: Ezr. 8:32. It may mean only that Nehemiah arrived one day, rested the next, and after sundown (beginning of the third day) he began his inspection rounds.
Neh. 2:12 describes the complete secrecy of this part of the operation. He went under cover at night; he took only a few with him; he told no one why he was going; he took only one animal to ride, to make as little sound as possible. The secrecy was justified, as we gather from Neh. 2:19, from the opposition that arose when his tour became known.
All of the locations in Neh. 2:13-15 apparently were at the south end of Jerusalem, where two valleys converge to draw the city down to a narrow point. The refuse gate was to the south, possibly directed toward the Valley at Hinnom, the citys garbage dump (Gehenna). The piles of debris effectively blocked his passage eventually, and he was forced to double back before continuing.
Neh. 2:16 re-emphasizes his secrecy; he did not even dare to trust any of his countrymen, whether priests, rulers, or labor contractors (the rest who did the work) with his purpose or plans.
In Neh. 2:17 he finally shares his burden, probably with those mentioned in Neh. 2:16. Note the first person: the bad situation we are in . . . Come, let us rebuild. . . . Two reasons seem to be on his mind: (1) to improve their physical situation, and (2) to improve their morale, i.e., take away their reproach, their reason for lacking self-respect and being ashamed.
We watch, in Neh. 2:18, as an idea begins with God ( the hand of God), moves to Nehemiah (had been favorable to me), reaches the king (and also about the kings words . . .), and arrives at the people (Then they said, Let us arise and build. ). Then things began to move.
In Neh. 2:19 opposition arises. Sanballat and Tobiah we met at Neh. 2:10; Geshem was their counterpart, known from contemporary literature as the governor of Arabia, though again he would not necessarily have been an Arabian. The territory then included Edom, which had been a thorn in the side of Israel for centuries (cf. the book of Obadiah).
The method which the Jews enemies used at this point was ridicule; they especially charged them with trying to rebuild the walls in order to mount a rebellion which, it was implied, would be futile.
Nehemiahs reply, in Neh. 2:20, was one of hope and assurance of Gods blessing: they would succeed because they were His servants, while their enemies had no portion (property rights), no right (jurisdiction), or memorial (reason why any of the residents should remember their past connection with the city, their contribution was so small during the century and a half they had been able to occupy it).
WORD STUDIES
FOREST (Neh. 2:8, Pardes): PARADISE: a park or pleasure-ground, a place planted with trees, pleasure-garden, enclosed hunting-ground, a park with wild animals, around the residence of the Persian monarchs; region of surpassing beauty; park around the house. The word is used only here and in Son. 4:13 and Ecc. 2:5.
REPROACH (Neh. 2:17 : noun, Cherpah; verb, Charaph): has the basic idea of pulling, plucking, picking or gathering (fruit). We pick at people, and pull them apart. Our descriptive words, carp and harp (criticize, reproach, upbraid), may be derived from it. Since the picking of fruit also implies the approach of winter, it speaks of a frigid treatment, a scornful attitude.
SUMMARY
After about four months, Nehemiah stood before Artaxerxes to serve the wine. The king observed his dejected expression and asked the reason for it. Nehemiah replied that the city, gates, and cemetery of his ancestors lay in ruins. He asked that the king allow him a leave of absence and an appointment to go and help rebuild: he would also need supplies from government preserves. The wishes were granted and Nehemiah made his way from Persia through Ammon and Samaria to Jerusalem, meanwhile becoming aware of the enmity of Tobiah and Sanballat, governors of the two lands. In complete secrecy he journeyed by night around a part of the citys ruined walls; then he returned to the city and announced to some of its leaders a plan to restore the walls, with Gods direction. The plan was adopted, the enemies responded with ridicule and accusation of plotting rebellion, and Nehemiah predicted that God would crown their project with success.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(11) Three days.For rest and devotion, after the example of Ezra.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Three days See note on Ezr 8:32.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Nehemiah Secretly Inspects The Walls Of Jerusalem And The Decision Is Made To Rebuild Them ( Neh 2:11-18 ).
Having arrived safely in Jerusalem Nehemiah rested, prior to a secret surveillance of the condition of the walls. His men would have to be quartered, although that might have been in a camp outside the city. Meanwhile he and his officers no doubt had to endure a ceremonious welcome. A high Persian official would always be welcomed with due ceremony, especially when accompanied by a formidable armed escort. But he was clearly keen to get on with his task, for he was well aware of the opposition that would arise once the idea that he was to rebuild the walls got around, and he wanted to delay that opposition as long as possible. So, after making a secret survey in the dead of night, he called on the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem to commence the rebuilding.
Neh 2:11
‘So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.’
Arriving in Jerusalem he rested ‘for three days’. Three days only signifies ‘a short period’, with each part of a day counting as a day. Thus he may only have taken one day of rest, after the day of arrival, using it to acclimatise himself and get to know the Jewish leaders, and to prepare for his surveillance. He knew what a daunting task the building of the walls might prove to be, and that he must move quickly. No one but himself was aware of what he had in mind.
Neh 2:12
‘And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, nor did I tell any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, nor was there any beast with me, except the beast that I rode on.’
In consequence when night came (the beginning of a new day for the Jews, so possibly the second night after his arrival), without telling anyone of his purpose, he took with him a few trusted men, and set off on his surveillance, without telling anyone what God had put on his heart to do for Jerusalem. No doubt he had a trusted Jerusalem guide, as well as a small armed escort. But he did not want to draw attention to what he was doing. The limitation to a single beast, no doubt an ass, may have been because of his awareness of his own importance, or it may have been because he feared that if others called on such beasts the secret might leak out.
Neh 2:13
‘And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire.’
Initially he went out by night by the Valley Gate (compare Neh 3:13; 2Ch 26:9), a gate probably in the West wall 1000 cubits (approximately 1500 feet, a little less than five hundred metres) from the Dung Gate which was at the southern end of Jerusalem, examining its condition as he passed through. Then he moved along southward outside the remains of the wall towards the Jackal’s Well (or Dragon’s Eye), a site now unknown, examining the walls as they went along, before arriving at the Dung Gate, which was probably almost at the southern end of the city. This was the gate through which rubbish would be carried out of the city to be hurled into the valley below, and was by the Pool of Siloam. It may be identified with the Potsherd Gate of Jer 19:2. He discovered during his examination the condition of the gates and walls. The gates had been consumed with fire, and the walls were broken down.
Neh 2:14
‘Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.’
Then he moved northward up the East wall until he reached the Fountain (or Spring) Gate, which no doubt led out onto a spring-fed pool of water (possibly En Rogel). They then moved on to the King’s Pool, the site of which is unknown, although it may well have had connection with the King’s Garden. But it was at this point that they discovered that it was impossible to proceed further because of the rubble caused by the previous destruction of the walls by Nebuchadnezzar, rubble which has since been confirmed by excavation. Even his sure-footed ass was unable to proceed.
Neh 2:15
‘Then I went up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.’
Possibly at this stage he dismounted, or it may be that going up in the night by the brook he was able to skirt the rubble. There he viewed the eastern wall. He had seemingly seen enough for he now turned back and returned round the southern end of Jerusalem to the Valley Gate from which he had first emerged (Neh 2:13). He had probably been able to survey the other walls quietly from the inside during the day without attracting attention. Now, therefore, he was aware of the difficulties that lay ahead.
Some, however, see him as indicating by this that he completed the circuit of the wall before re-entering by the Valley Gate, but without making further comment.
Neh 2:16
‘And the rulers did not know where I went, or what I did, nor had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who would do the work.’
He now makes clear that no one knew where he had gone, or what he had gone to do. The initial mention of the rulers may suggest that he was staying in their palace. They would thus have been aware that he had gone out. But as far as they were concerned he may have been visiting his escort. They were unaware of his intentions. Nor had he given any explanation of his intentions to anyone, not the people, nor the priests, nor the nobles, nor the rulers, nor even those on whom he would call to do the work. He did not want to risk word leaking out.
Neh 2:17
‘Then I said to them, “You see the evil situation that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.”
But now, having satisfactorily concluded his survey he called them all together and pointed out the precarious and reproachful situation that they were in without walls or gates. It was dangerous and an embarrassment. Then he called on them to work with him in building the walls of Jerusalem so that they might once more be a proud independent city, without the reproach that came from them not being able to rebuild the walls. No longer need they be trodden down by their local enemies.
Neh 2:18
‘And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.’
He then informed them how clearly God had been at work in making his appeal to the king of Persia successful, and what the king had said to him. This put a new light on things and strengthened their resolve with the result that they were all in agreement. ‘Let us rise up and build’, they all declared. And in view of this they prepared themselves and nerved themselves for the huge task ahead.
That the divisions which later appear, such as Nehemiah’s conflicts with Eliashib the High Priest, were not yet apparent, is clear. And it is what we would expect. Nehemiah was an unknown quantity and all that was in mind at the time was the rebuilding of the wall, which almost all saw as a good thing. Thus disparate groups were getting together with a will in order to see the task accomplished.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
(11) So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. (12) And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. (13) And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. (14) Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. (15) Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. (16) And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. (17) Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. (18) Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
Probably the three days before Nehemiah entered upon the great object of his journey, were spent in prayer. His night visit to the walls of Jerusalem serves to convince us, that the cause he had before him would meet with much opposition. His convening the people, and informing them what was in his mind, seems to intimate his great wisdom and good conduct. But let the Reader look through the historical part, to discover the great object intended from the whole as it concerned the church of God. The Lord had prophesied that Jerusalem should again be built; that old men should dwell in the streets.; and boys and girls yet play there. Zec 8:4-5 . And more than this, the temple should be built, and the glory of it should exceed the former splendid temple of Solomon. And so it did when the Son of God came into it. Compare Hag 2:7 , with Luk 2:26-32 . Hence, therefore, the good hand of the Lord was upon Nehemiah, and the Spirit of the Lord was directing him to the work with an eye to Jesus. Oh! how blessed it is to observe all things, and all providences, in the Old Testament scripture, ushering in the mercies of the New; and all directed to this one, and this only purpose, to introduce Jesus the Son of God, that we might believe in him, and that in believing we might have life through his name. Joh 20:31 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Neh 2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Ver. 11. So I came to Jerusalem ] Thither God brought him, as on eagles’ wings, maugre the malice of his enemies. The Jews had great reason to rejoice, and to welcome him with great solemnity; which yet they did not, for aught we read; but that he taketh not for any discouragement; his reward was with God. He was of another spirit than his countrymen, who were all for their own ends and interests, and little cared for the public.
And was there three days
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 2:11-16
11So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. 14Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass. 15So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.
Neh 2:11 three days This was possibly a time of rest or prayer (cf. Ezr 8:15; Ezr 8:32).
Neh 2:12 This relates Nehemiah’s initial secret inspection of the walls (cf. Neh 2:16).
what my God was putting into my mind to do Nehemiah believed that YHWH was guiding his thoughts and actions. He was a man of prayer, but also a man of action.
Neh 2:13-15 The locations are uncertain. We know from archeology that Nehemiah’s walled city was much smaller than David’s.
inspecting This VERB (BDB 960 I, KB 1304, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) is often used in the sense of hope (Peel), so here it may denote inspection with a view of restoration.
Neh 2:14 but there was no place for my mount to pass This was because of debris.
Neh 2:16 Notice the different groups mentioned. Normally Jews, priests, Levites, and temple servants made up the categories of people, but here
1. the Jews (general population of the returnees)
2. the priests
3. the nobles (tribal/clan leaders, cf. Neh 4:14; Neh 6:17; Neh 13:17; 1Ki 21:8)
4. the officials (probably governmental appointees)
5. the rest (workers, both slaves and returnees)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Ezr 8:32