Nehemiah 1:1--2:20
Nehemiah <05166> [Nehemiah.]
month <02320> [in the month.]
twentieth <06242> [in the twentieth.]
Susa <07800> [Shushan.]
Shushan, or Susa, was the capital of Susiana, a province of Persia, and the winter residence of the Persian monarchs; situated about 252 miles east of Babylon, and the same distance south-south-east of Ecbatana, in lat. 32 degrees, long. 49 degrees. The circumference of its walls was about 120 stadia. Shouster is supposed to occupy its site.
Hanani <02607> [Hanani.]
asked <07592> [I asked.]
escaped <06413> [that had escaped.]
province <04082> [the province.]
considerable <01419> [in great.]
reproach <02781> [reproach.]
wall <02346> [the wall.]
sat down <03427> [I sat down.]
God <0430> [the God.]
great <01419> [the great.]
keeps ........... obey <08104> [keepeth.]
ear <0241> [thine ear.]
day ... night <03119 03915> [day and night.]
confessing <03034> [confess.]
family <01> [both I.]
behaved corruptly against <02254> [dealt.]
behaved corruptly against <02254> [corruptly.]
commandments <04687> [the commandments.]
commanded <06680> [which thou.]
recall <02142> [Remember.]
unfaithfully <04603> [If ye transgress.]
repent <07725> [if ye turn.]
gather <06908> [yet will I.]
bring <0935> [will bring.]
place <04725> [the place.]
servants <05650> [Now these.]
redeemed <06299> [whom.]
mighty ...... powerful <02389> [thy strong.]
listen <0241> [Let now.]
take pleasure <02655> [who desire.]
show <05414> [grant.]
king <04428> [For I was.]
The office of cup-bearer was one of great trust, honour, and emolument, in the Persian court. To be in such a place of trust he must have been in the king's confidence; for no eastern potentate would have a cup-bearer to whom he could not trust his life, poison being often administered in that way. It was an office much desired, because it gave access to the king in those seasons of hilarity when men are most disposed to grant favours.
Nisan <05212> [Nisan.]
twentieth <06242> [the twentieth.]
took <05375> [I took up.]
appear <06440> [Why is thy.]
sadness <07455> [sorrow.]
very <03966> [Then I.]
Probably the king spoke as if he had some suspicion that Nehemiah harboured some bad design, and that his face indicated some conceived treachery, or remorse; and, indeed, the words rendered sad, and sorrow of heart, might be rendered evil, and wickedness of heart.
king ... king <04428> [Let the king.]
Far from wishing ill to my master, I wish him to live for ever.
city <05892> [the city.]
O .......... dejected <01004> [the place.]
seeking <01245> [For what.]
prayed <06419> [So I prayed.]
inclined <02895> [If it please.]
servant <05650> [and if thy.]
consort <07694> [the queen. Heb. the wife.]
It was probably Esther who was present at this time, and who seconded Nehemiah's request.
<03190> [So it pleased.]
gave .... time <02165 05414> [I set him a time.]
It is probable that this time was no more than six months, or a year; after which he either returned, or had his leave of absence lengthened, as we find he was twelve years governor of the Jews.
letters <0107> [let letters.]
travel <05674> [that they may.]
wall <02346> [the wall.]
temple .......... house <01004> [the house.]
king's ...................................... king <04428> [the king.]
governors <06346> [to the governors.]
king ... king <04428> [Now the.]
Sanballat <05571> [Sanballat.]
Horonite <02772> [Horonite.]
official <05650> [the servant.]
Ammonite <05984> [the Ammonite.]
<03415> [it grieved.]
come <0935> [there was come.]
got <06965> [I arose.]
tell .................. animals <05046 0929> [neither.]
God <0430> [my God.]
This pious and noble-minded man attributes every thing to God. If he purposed any good, it was because God put it into his heart; if he did or received any good, it was because the good hand of his God was upon him; if he expected any good, it was because he earnestly prayed God to remember him for good.
Gate ................ Gate ............. gates <08179> [the gate.]
Gate ............... Dung Gate ............. gates <08179 0830> [the dung port.]
This was the gate on the eastern side of the city, through which the filth was carried to the brook Kidron and valley of Hinnom.
walls <02346> [the walls.]
Gate <05869 08179> [the gate of the fountain.]
The gate leading either to the fountain of Siloam, on the east of the city, or to that of Gihon, on the west.
King's Pool <01295 04428> [the king's pool.]
Probably the aqueduct made by Hezekiah to bring the waters of Gihon to the city of David.
valley <05158> [the brook. The brook Kidron.]
Gate <08179> [the gate.]
The gate leading to the valley of Jehoshaphat, east of the city, through which the brook Kidron flows. It was by this gate he went out; so that he went round the whole of the city, and entered by the same gate.
officials .................................... officials <05461> [the rulers.]
see <07200> [Ye see.]
<03212> [come.]
reproach <02781> [a reproach.]
hand .......................... readied <03027> [the hand.]
<02388> [So they strengthened.]
Sanballat <05571> [Sanballat.]
Geshem <01654> [Geshem.]
[Gashmu. they.]
rebelling <04775> [will ye rebel.]
God <0430> [The God.]
just <02506> [ye have no.]
ancient <02146> [memorial.]
When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words, Ps 51:18, he did not sit still and say, "Let God now do his own work, for I have no more to do;" but set himself to do what he could towards it; and here we find that the people were of one heart with Nehemiah. Our prayers must be seconded with our serious endeavours, or else we mock God. Nearly four months had passed, namely, from Chisleu to Nisan (November to March), before Nehemiah made his application to the king for leave to go to Jerusalem; either because the winter was not a proper time for such a journey, and he would not make a motion till he could pursue it, or because it was so long before his month of waiting upon the king came, and there was no coming into his presence until called for, Es 4:11. We are not thus limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty of access to him at all times; to the throne of grace we never come unseasonably.
