8 And a letter H107 unto Asaph H623 the keeper H8104 of the king's H4428 forest, H6508 that he may give H5414 me timber H6086 to make beams H7136 for the gates H8179 of the palace H1002 which appertained to the house, H1004 and for the wall H2346 of the city, H5892 and for the house H1004 that I shall enter into. H935 And the king H4428 granted H5414 me, according to the good H2896 hand H3027 of my God H430 upon me.
Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of our fathers, H1 which hath put H5414 such a thing as this in the king's H4428 heart, H3820 to beautify H6286 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 which is in Jerusalem: H3389 And hath extended H5186 mercy H2617 unto me before H6440 the king, H4428 and his counsellors, H3289 and before all the king's H4428 mighty H1368 princes. H8269 And I was strengthened H2388 as the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 my God H430 was upon me, and I gathered together H6908 out of Israel H3478 chief men H7218 to go up H5927 with me.
Then said H559 I unto them, Ye see H7200 the distress H7451 that we are in, how Jerusalem H3389 lieth waste, H2720 and the gates H8179 thereof are burned H3341 with fire: H784 come, H3212 and let us build up H1129 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem, H3389 that we be no more a reproach. H2781 Then I told H5046 them of the hand H3027 of my God H430 which was good H2896 upon me; as also the king's H4428 words H1697 that he had spoken H559 unto me. And they said, H559 Let us rise up H6965 and build. H1129 So they strengthened H2388 their hands H3027 for this good H2896 work.
Then Eliashib H475 the high H1419 priest H3548 rose up H6965 with his brethren H251 the priests, H3548 and they builded H1129 the sheep H6629 gate; H8179 they sanctified H6942 it, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 of it; even unto the tower H4026 of Meah H3968 they sanctified H6942 it, unto the tower H4026 of Hananeel. H2606 And next unto him H3027 builded H1129 the men H582 of Jericho. H3405 And next to them builded H1129 Zaccur H2139 the son H1121 of Imri. H566 But the fish H1709 gate H8179 did the sons H1121 of Hassenaah H5570 build, H1129 who also laid the beams H7136 thereof, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 thereof, the locks H4514 thereof, and the bars H1280 thereof. And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Meremoth H4822 the son H1121 of Urijah, H223 the son H1121 of Koz. H6976 And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Meshullam H4918 the son H1121 of Berechiah, H1296 the son H1121 of Meshezabeel. H4898 And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Zadok H6659 the son H1121 of Baana. H1195 And next unto them H3027 the Tekoites H8621 repaired; H2388 but their nobles H117 put H935 not their necks H6677 to the work H5656 of their Lord. H113 Moreover the old H3465 gate H8179 repaired H2388 Jehoiada H3111 the son H1121 of Paseah, H6454 and Meshullam H4918 the son H1121 of Besodeiah; H1152 they laid the beams H7136 thereof, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 thereof, and the locks H4514 thereof, and the bars H1280 thereof. And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Melatiah H4424 the Gibeonite, H1393 and Jadon H3036 the Meronothite, H4824 the men H582 of Gibeon, H1391 and of Mizpah, H4709 unto the throne H3678 of the governor H6346 on this side H5676 the river. H5104 Next unto him H3027 repaired H2388 Uzziel H5816 the son H1121 of Harhaiah, H2736 of the goldsmiths. H6884 Next unto him H3027 also repaired H2388 Hananiah H2608 the son H1121 of one of the apothecaries, H7546 and they fortified H5800 Jerusalem H3389 unto the broad H7342 wall. H2346 And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Rephaiah H7509 the son H1121 of Hur, H2354 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Jerusalem. H3389 And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Jedaiah H3042 the son H1121 of Harumaph, H2739 even over against his house. H1004 And next unto him H3027 repaired H2388 Hattush H2407 the son H1121 of Hashabniah. H2813 Malchijah H4441 the son H1121 of Harim, H2766 and Hashub H2815 the son H1121 of Pahathmoab, H6355 repaired H2388 the other H8145 piece, H4060 and the tower H4026 of the furnaces. H8574 And next unto him H3027 repaired H2388 Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Halohesh, H3873 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Jerusalem, H3389 he and his daughters. H1323 The valley H1516 gate H8179 repaired H2388 Hanun, H2586 and the inhabitants H3427 of Zanoah; H2182 they built H1129 it, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 thereof, the locks H4514 thereof, and the bars H1280 thereof, and a thousand H505 cubits H520 on the wall H2346 unto the dung H830 gate. H8179 But the dung H830 gate H8179 repaired H2388 Malchiah H4441 the son H1121 of Rechab, H7394 the ruler H8269 of part H6418 of Bethhaccerem; H1021 he built H1129 it, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 thereof, the locks H4514 thereof, and the bars H1280 thereof. But the gate H8179 of the fountain H5869 repaired H2388 Shallun H7968 the son H1121 of Colhozeh, H3626 the ruler H8269 of part H6418 of Mizpah; H4709 he built H1129 it, and covered H2926 it, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 thereof, the locks H4514 thereof, and the bars H1280 thereof, and the wall H2346 of the pool H1295 of Siloah H7975 by the king's H4428 garden, H1588 and unto the stairs H4609 that go down H3381 from the city H5892 of David. H1732 After H310 him repaired H2388 Nehemiah H5166 the son H1121 of Azbuk, H5802 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Bethzur, H1049 unto the place over against the sepulchres H6913 of David, H1732 and to the pool H1295 that was made, H6213 and unto the house H1004 of the mighty. H1368 After H310 him repaired H2388 the Levites, H3881 Rehum H7348 the son H1121 of Bani. H1137 Next unto him H3027 repaired H2388 Hashabiah, H2811 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Keilah, H7084 in his part. H6418 After H310 him repaired H2388 their brethren, H251 Bavai H942 the son H1121 of Henadad, H2582 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Keilah. H7084 And next to him H3027 repaired H2388 Ezer H5829 the son H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 the ruler H8269 of Mizpah, H4709 another H8145 piece H4060 over against the going up H5927 to the armoury H5402 at the turning H4740 of the wall. After H310 him Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Zabbai H2079 earnestly H2734 repaired H2388 the other H8145 piece, H4060 from the turning H4740 of the wall unto the door H6607 of the house H1004 of Eliashib H475 the high H1419 priest. H3548 After H310 him repaired H2388 Meremoth H4822 the son H1121 of Urijah H223 the son H1121 of Koz H6976 another H8145 piece, H4060 from the door H6607 of the house H1004 of Eliashib H475 even to the end H8503 of the house H1004 of Eliashib. H475 And after H310 him repaired H2388 the priests, H3548 the men H582 of the plain. H3603 After H310 him repaired H2388 Benjamin H1144 and Hashub H2815 over against their house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 Azariah H5838 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 the son H1121 of Ananiah H6055 by H681 his house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 Binnui H1131 the son H1121 of Henadad H2582 another H8145 piece, H4060 from the house H1004 of Azariah H5838 unto the turning H4740 of the wall, even unto the corner. H6438 Palal H6420 the son H1121 of Uzai, H186 over against the turning H4740 of the wall, and the tower H4026 which lieth out H3318 from the king's H4428 high H5945 house, H1004 that was by the court H2691 of the prison. H4307 After H310 him Pedaiah H6305 the son H1121 of Parosh. H6551 Moreover the Nethinims H5411 dwelt H3427 in Ophel, H6077 unto the place over against the water H4325 gate H8179 toward the east, H4217 and the tower H4026 that lieth out. H3318 After H310 them the Tekoites H8621 repaired H2388 another H8145 piece, H4060 over against the great H1419 tower H4026 that lieth out, H3318 even unto the wall H2346 of Ophel. H6077 From above the horse H5483 gate H8179 repaired H2388 the priests, H3548 every one H376 over against H5048 his house. H1004 After H310 them repaired H2388 Zadok H6659 the son H1121 of Immer H564 over against his house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 also Shemaiah H8098 the son H1121 of Shechaniah, H7935 the keeper H8104 of the east H4217 gate. H8179 After H310 him repaired H2388 Hananiah H2608 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 and Hanun H2586 the sixth H8345 son H1121 of Zalaph, H6764 another H8145 piece. H4060 After H310 him repaired H2388 Meshullam H4918 the son H1121 of Berechiah H1296 over against his chamber. H5393 After H310 him repaired H2388 Malchiah H4441 the goldsmith's H6885 son H1121 unto the place H1004 of the Nethinims, H5411 and of the merchants, H7402 over against the gate H8179 Miphkad, H4663 and to the going up H5944 of the corner. H6438 And between the going up H5944 of the corner H6438 unto the sheep H6629 gate H8179 repaired H2388 the goldsmiths H6884 and the merchants. H7402
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 2
Commentary on Nehemiah 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Ne 2:1-20. Artaxerxes, Understanding the Cause of Nehemiah's Sadness, Sends Him with Letters and a Commission to Build Again the Walls of Jerusalem.
1. it came to pass in the month Nisan—This was nearly four months after he had learned the desolate and ruinous state of Jerusalem (Ne 1:1). The reasons for so long a delay cannot be ascertained.
I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king—Xenophon has particularly remarked about the polished and graceful manner in which the cupbearers of the Median, and consequently the Persian, monarchs performed their duty of presenting the wine to their royal master. Having washed the cup in the king's presence and poured into their left hand a little of the wine, which they drank in his presence, they then handed the cup to him, not grasped, but lightly held with the tips of their thumb and fingers. This description has received some curious illustrations from the monuments of Assyria and Persia, on which the cupbearers are frequently represented in the act of handing wine to the king.
2-5. the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad?—It was deemed highly unbecoming to appear in the royal presence with any weeds or signs of sorrow (Es 4:2); and hence it was no wonder that the king was struck with the dejected air of his cupbearer, while that attendant, on his part, felt his agitation increased by his deep anxiety about the issue of the conversation so abruptly begun. But the piety and intense earnestness of the man immediately restored [Nehemiah] to calm self-possession and enabled him to communicate, first, the cause of his sadness (Ne 2:3), and next, the patriotic wish of his heart to be the honored instrument of reviving the ancient glory of the city of his fathers.
6-9. the queen also sitting by him—As the Persian monarchs did not admit their wives to be present at their state festivals, this must have been a private occasion. The queen referred to was probably Esther, whose presence would tend greatly to embolden Nehemiah in stating his request; and through her influence, powerfully exerted it may be supposed, also by her sympathy with the patriotic design, his petition was granted, to go as deputy governor of Judea, accompanied by a military guard, and invested with full powers to obtain materials for the building in Jerusalem, as well as to get all requisite aid in promoting his enterprise.
I set him a time—Considering the great despatch made in raising the walls, it is probable that this leave of absence was limited at first to a year or six months, after which he returned to his duties in Shushan. The circumstance of fixing a set time for his return, as well as entrusting so important a work as the refortification of Jerusalem to his care, proves the high favor and confidence Nehemiah enjoyed at the Persian court, and the great estimation in which his services were held. At a later period he received a new commission for the better settlement of the affairs of Judea and remained governor of that province for twelve years (Ne 5:14).
7. letters be given me to the governors beyond the river—The Persian empire at this time was of vast extent, reaching from the Indus to the Mediterranean. The Euphrates was considered as naturally dividing it into two parts, eastern and western (see on Ezr 5:3).
8. according to the good hand of my God upon me—The piety of Nehemiah appears in every circumstance. The conception of his patriotic design, the favorable disposition of the king, and the success of the undertaking are all ascribed to God.
10. Sanballat the Horonite—Horonaim being a town in Moab, this person, it is probable, was a Moabite.
Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite—The term used indicates him to have been a freed slave, elevated to some official dignity. These were district magistrates under the government of the satrap of Syria; and they seem to have been leaders of the Samaritan faction.
11, 12. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days—Deeply affected with the desolations of Jerusalem, and uncertain what course to follow, he remained three days before informing any one of the object of his mission [Ne 2:17, 18]. At the end of the third day, accompanied with a few attendants, he made, under covert of night, a secret survey of the walls and gates [Ne 2:13-15].
13-15. I went out by night by the gate of the valley—that is, the Jaffa gate, near the tower of Hippicus.
even before the dragon well—that is, fountain on the opposite side of the valley.
and to the dung port—the gate on the east of the city, through which there ran a common sewer to the brook Kedron and the valley of Hinnom.
14. Then—that is, after having passed through the gate of the Essenes.
I went on to the gate of the fountain—that is, Siloah, from which turning round the fount of Ophel.
to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass—that is, by the sides of this pool (Solomon's) there being water in the pool, and too much rubbish about it to permit the passage of the beast.
15. Then went I up … by the brook—that is, Kedron.
and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned—the gate leading to the valley of Jehoshaphat, east of the city. He went out by this gate, and having made the circuit of the city, went in by it again [Barclay, City of the Great King].
16-18. the rulers knew not—The following day, having assembled the elders, Nehemiah produced his commission and exhorted them to assist in the work. The sight of his credentials, and the animating strain of his address and example, so revived their drooping spirits that they resolved immediately to commence the building, which they did, despite the bitter taunts and scoffing ridicule of some influential men.