Bible Commentary

Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 9. the governors beyond the river ] The governors of the provinces W. of the Euphrates. According to Josephus the chief governor of Syria, Phnicia and Samaria … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:9”

And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which [appertained] to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:8”

Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 7. letters ] see note on Ezr 4:8. the governors beyond the river ] The ‘Pekhahs’ of the province on the west … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:7”

And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 6. The account is very condensed. Nehemiah’s request is favourably received, but only the general results of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:6”

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers, that I may build it. 5. If it please the king, and if thy servant, &c.] A double conditional sentence … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:5”

Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 4. For what dost thou make request ] See Est 4:8; Est 7:1; Est 7:7. The king is favourable, and asks how he can render assistance. So I prayed ] Literally, ‘And I prayed’. Nehemiah … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:4”

And said unto the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 3. Let the king live for ever ] For this formula opening an address to a king see Dan … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:3”

Wherefore the king said unto me, Why [is] thy countenance sad, seeing thou [art] not sick? this [is] nothing [else] but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 2. Wherefore ] R.V. And. sad ] The Hebrew adjective which means literally ‘bad’ is used constantly in this sense, just as we speak of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:2”

And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that] wine [was] before him: and I took up the wine, and gave [it] unto the king. Now I had not been [formerly] sad in his presence. Neh 2:1-11 . Nehemiah receives His Commission 1. Nisan ] See … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:1”

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 1:11”