Nehemiah 2
DOYLYChap. II. ver. 1.—in the month Nisan.] Four months after he had heard of the desolate state in which Jerusalem lay; probably, during this interval, his turn of waiting did not come, or he had no favourable opportunity of speaking to the king. Bp. Patrick.
—why should not my countenance be sad.] There is a pious affection due to one’s country, which cannot be extinguished by the pleasure or plenty of any other. It is no weakness to be deeply affected with the misfortunes, or for the death of our nearest friends or relations, by whatever distance we may be separated from them. Nor can any prosperity in another country hinder or excuse a man for not being deeply afflicted for any calamity that befalls his own. Nehemiah was in no mean station when he was cupbearer to Artaxerxes, and probably had the honours and preferments of that great empire at his command; yet, when the king discerned that there was sorrow of heart expressed in his countenance, and demanded the reason of it, he made no other excuse than ’the place of my fathers’ sepulchres lieth waste,’ and, when the king so graciously invited him to ask some favour worthy of his royal bounty, he would ask nothing further than ‘Send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.’ A generous spirit can think of nothing but relieving his country, while it is under a general misery or calamity. Lord Clarendon.
— and for the house that I shall enter into.] For the building of a house, which might be the residence of himself and of future governours.
Nehemiah 2:2
2.—Why is thy countenance sad.] When we see a heathen master so tender of his servant’s grief, how sensible, do we think, the great Father of mercies must be of our sorrowful thoughts; and how ready should our tongues be, to lay open our cares to the God of all comfort, when we see Nehemiah so quick in the expressions of his sorrow to an uncertain ear. Bp. Hall.
Nehemiah 2:3
3.—Let the king live for ever.] A common form
city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
Nehemiah 2:4
4.—So I prayed to the God of heaven.] Meaning, that he paused for a short time, so as to put up a short ejaculation to heaven for a favourable answer. Pyle.
Nehemiah 2:5
5.—(the queen also sitting by)] Probably, the queen Esther. As it is here particularly remarked, that the queen was sitting by the king when Nehemiah obtained the grant, it is sufficiently implied that her favour assisted him in the business. Dean Prideaux.
Nehemiah 2:6
6.—of the king’s forests.] Perhaps of the forest of Lebanon, from which the materials for public buildings at Jerusalem were brought. Bp. Patrick.
—which appertained to the house.] Which appertained to the house of the Lord. Housing.
Nehemiah 2:10
- — Sanballat the Horonite, &c.] Horonite was an eminent city in the country of Moab, (Is. xv. 5; Jer. xlviii. 3, 5, 34,) so that Sanballat was probably a petty prince in that country. From the mention of this person and Tobiah the Ammonite, it is shewn that the nations of Moab and Ammon were restored, as well as the Jews, according to the Divine oracles, and were well known; to the end that their destruction by the people of God might be more observable, which was in the time of the Maccabees, who subdued those nations, according to the predictions of the several Prophets. Tobiah is called “the servant, the Ammonite.” It is probable that he had been a slave from that country, but was now advanced to some authority in these parts. Bp. Patrick.
— it grieved them exceedingly] The people of these neighbouring nations were excited to their opposition, not only by the ancient and bitter enmity which they bore to the whole Jewish nation, on account of their difference in manners and religion, but, more especially, at this time, on account of their lands. It is related by Josephus, that these nations, having seized the lands of the Jews during their captivity, had been forced to restore them on their return: thus they naturally endeavoured by all means to prevent their complete settle-
ment, hoping that, if they were kept in a depressed state, they might have an opportunity of recovering at some future time the prey they had lost. Deon Prideaux.
Nehemiah 2:14
- — the gate of the fountain.] The fountain either of Siloah or of Gibon. Though the wall was broken down, the places where the gates were, were probably known, and the names retained. Bp. Patrick. The position of the other places here mentioned is only known by conjecture.
Nehemiah 2:18
- Then I told them of the hand of my God &c.] He told them how favourable God had been to him, in disposing the king to assist him in his project.
Nehemiah 2:20
- — The God of heaven, he will prosper us;] Professing his confidence in the God of heaven, in whose work he was now engaged, he shakes off the impotent malice of his adversaries, and goes on cheerfully to build. Bp. Hall.
Nehemiah’s whole behaviour on this occasion shews his sincere piety, joined with great prudence and courage; and the success which he obtained teaches us that God blesses designs which are formed for good ends, and that those who labour to promote His glory, should never be discouraged when they are opposed by the wicked. Ostervald.
— ye have no portion, &c.] You have no property, no right of any kind, your names are not even registered, in Jerusalem; you have therefore no right to interfere in a concern exclusively our’s.