Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 2

Introduction

Overview

Nehemiah 2:1, Artaxerxes, understanding the cause of Nehemiah’s sadness, sends him with letters and commission to Jerusalem; Nehemiah 2:9, Nehemiah, to the grief of the enemies, comes to Jerusalem; Nehemiah 2:12, He views secretly the ruins of the walls; Nehemiah 2:17, He incites the Jews to build.

Verse 1

Nisan: Esther 3:7

the twentieth: Nehemiah 1:1, Ezra 7:1, Ezra 7:7

I took up: Nehemiah 1:11, Genesis 40:11, Genesis 40:21

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 5:14 - from the twentieth Nehemiah 13:6 - the two Psalms 102:17 - He will Proverbs 12:25 - Heaviness Daniel 9:25 - from

Verse 2

Why is thy: Genesis 40:7

sorrow: Proverbs 15:13

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.

Reciprocal: Genesis 40:1 - the butler 1 Kings 21:5 - Why is thy spirit Nehemiah 7:7 - Zerubbabel Psalms 13:2 - sorrow Psalms 137:5 - I forget Proverbs 12:25 - Heaviness Ecclesiastes 7:4 - heart

Verse 3

Let the king: Far from wishing ill to my master, I wish him to live forever. 1 Kings 1:31, Daniel 2:4, Daniel 3:9, Daniel 5:10, Daniel 6:6, Daniel 6:21

the city: Nehemiah 1:3, Psalms 102:14, Psalms 137:6, Lamentations 2:9

the place: 2 Chronicles 21:20, 2 Chronicles 28:27, 2 Chronicles 32:33

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:30 - General Leviticus 26:31 - And I will make Nehemiah 2:13 - the walls Esther 4:8 - request Esther 8:6 - the evil Psalms 74:3 - the perpetual Psalms 137:1 - the rivers Psalms 137:5 - I forget Isaiah 5:5 - I will take Isaiah 44:26 - and I will Jeremiah 8:21 - the hurt Jeremiah 51:50 - remember

Verse 4

For what: 1 Kings 3:5, Esther 5:3, Esther 5:6, Esther 7:2, Mark 10:51

So I prayed: Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 1:11, 2 Samuel 15:31, Proverbs 3:6, Philippians 4:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:12 - I pray Genesis 24:45 - speaking Genesis 39:4 - Joseph 1 Samuel 1:13 - spake 1 Kings 8:50 - and give them Nehemiah 2:6 - So it pleased Nehemiah 2:20 - The God Proverbs 21:1 - The king's Proverbs 22:11 - the king Isaiah 49:17 - children Jeremiah 29:12 - General Jeremiah 40:5 - or go Daniel 1:9 - General Jonah 1:9 - the God Acts 23:19 - What Philippians 2:13 - to will Revelation 16:11 - the God

Verse 5

If it please: Ezra 5:17, Esther 1:19, Esther 5:8, Esther 7:3, Esther 8:5

and if thy: Ruth 2:13, 2 Samuel 14:22, Proverbs 3:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:27 - favour Genesis 39:4 - Joseph Genesis 47:30 - General Nehemiah 13:6 - after certain days Isaiah 58:12 - build

Verse 6

the queen: Heb. the wife, It was probably Esther who was present at this time, and who seconded Nehemiah's request.

So it pleased: Nehemiah 2:4, Nehemiah 1:11, Isaiah 58:12, Isaiah 61:4, Isaiah 65:24

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. Nehemiah 5:14, Nehemiah 13:6

Reciprocal: Isaiah 49:23 - kings

Verse 7

let letters: Nehemiah 2:9, Ezra 6:6, Ezra 7:21

that they may: Ezra 8:22

Reciprocal: Ezra 5:3 - Tatnai Isaiah 60:10 - their kings

Verse 8

the wall: Nehemiah 2:17, Nehemiah 3:1-32

the house: Nehemiah 3:7, Nehemiah 7:2

the king: Nehemiah 2:18, Genesis 32:28, Ezra 5:5, Ezra 6:22, Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:9, Ezra 7:27, Ezra 7:28, Proverbs 21:1, Isaiah 66:14, Daniel 1:9, Acts 7:10, Acts 26:22, 2 Corinthians 8:16

Reciprocal: Ezra 8:18 - by the good hand Nehemiah 1:11 - grant Nehemiah 3:3 - the beams Esther 2:9 - she obtained Psalms 68:29 - shall Micah 7:11 - shall Acts 11:21 - the hand

Verse 9

to the governors: Nehemiah 2:7

Now the: Ezra 8:22

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 30:21 - nobles

Verse 10

Sanballat: Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 4:1-3, Nehemiah 4:7, Nehemiah 6:1

Horonite: Isaiah 15:5, Jeremiah 48:5, Jeremiah 48:34

the servant: Proverbs 30:22, Ecclesiastes 10:7

the Ammonite: Nehemiah 13:1

it grieved: Numbers 22:3, Numbers 22:4, Psalms 112:10, Psalms 122:6-9, Proverbs 27:4, Ezekiel 25:6-8, Micah 7:9, Micah 7:10, Micah 7:16, Micah 7:17, Acts 4:2, Acts 5:24, Acts 19:26, Acts 19:27

there was come: Ezra 4:4-23

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:3 - Tobiah Nehemiah 6:16 - when all our enemies Esther 10:3 - seeking Psalms 122:9 - I will seek Jeremiah 30:21 - nobles Jeremiah 41:10 - to the

Verse 11

Ezra 8:32

Verse 12

I arose: Genesis 32:22-24, Joshua 10:9, Judges 6:27, Judges 9:32, Matthew 2:14

neither: Ecclesiastes 3:7, Amos 5:13, Micah 7:5, Matthew 10:16

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. Ezra 7:27, Psalms 51:18, Psalms 122:6, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:40, 2 Corinthians 8:16, James 1:16, James 1:17, Revelation 17:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 35:34 - he hath Ezra 1:5 - whose spirit Ezra 7:6 - according to Nehemiah 2:16 - the rulers Ecclesiastes 9:10 - thy hand John 13:2 - put Acts 23:24 - beasts

Verse 13

the gate: Nehemiah 2:15, Nehemiah 3:13, 2 Chronicles 26:9

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. Nehemiah 3:13, Nehemiah 3:14, Nehemiah 12:31

the walls: Nehemiah 2:3, Nehemiah 2:17, Nehemiah 1:3, Jeremiah 5:10

Reciprocal: Psalms 74:3 - the perpetual

Verse 14

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. Nehemiah 3:15, 2 Kings 18:17, 2 Kings 20:20, 2 Chronicles 32:30

the king's pool: Probably the aqueduct made by Hezekiah to bring the waters of Gihon to the city of David.

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 12:37 - the fountain gate Ecclesiastes 2:6 - pools

Verse 15

the brook: The brook Kidron, 2 Samuel 15:23, Jeremiah 31:38-40, John 18:1

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. Nehemiah 2:13

Verse 16

the rulers: Nehemiah 2:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:11 - nobles

Verse 17

Ye see: Lamentations 2:2, Lamentations 2:8, Lamentations 2:9, Lamentations 3:51

come: Ezra 5:1, Ezra 5:2, Ezra 10:2-4, Isaiah 35:3, Isaiah 35:4

a reproach: Nehemiah 1:3, 1 Samuel 11:2, Psalms 44:13, Psalms 79:4, Psalms 79:12, Psalms 89:50, Psalms 89:51, Jeremiah 24:9, Lamentations 3:45, Lamentations 3:46, Ezekiel 5:14, Ezekiel 22:4, Ezekiel 22:5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:31 - And I will make Nehemiah 2:8 - the wall Nehemiah 2:13 - the walls Psalms 51:18 - build Psalms 102:14 - General Isaiah 49:17 - children Isaiah 58:12 - build Jeremiah 31:38 - that Micah 7:11 - the day

Verse 18

the hand: Nehemiah 2:8

So they strengthened: 2 Samuel 2:7, 1 Chronicles 11:10, 1 Chronicles 19:13, 2 Chronicles 32:5, Ezra 6:22, Haggai 1:13, Haggai 1:14, Ephesians 6:10, Philippians 2:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:2 - strengthened 1 Samuel 23:16 - strengthened Ezra 7:6 - according to Ezra 7:9 - began he to go up Matthew 26:10 - a good Acts 11:21 - the hand 2 Timothy 3:17 - thoroughly furnished

Verse 19

Sanballat: Nehemiah 2:10, Nehemiah 6:1, Nehemiah 6:2

Geshem: Nehemiah 6:9, Gashmu

they: Job 30:1, Psalms 44:13, Psalms 44:14, Psalms 79:4, Psalms 80:6, Jeremiah 20:8, Mark 5:40, Hebrews 11:36

will ye rebel: Nehemiah 6:6, Ezra 4:15, Ezra 4:16, Luke 23:2, John 19:12, Acts 24:5

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:10 - I defy 2 Chronicles 30:10 - they laughed Nehemiah 4:1 - Sanballat Nehemiah 4:3 - Tobiah Nehemiah 4:7 - Sanballat Nehemiah 13:1 - Moabite Nehemiah 13:28 - Sanballat Isaiah 36:5 - that Jeremiah 41:10 - to the Jeremiah 49:1 - their king Lamentations 5:8 - Servants Amos 1:13 - and for

Verse 20

The God: Nehemiah 2:4, 2 Chronicles 26:5, Psalms 20:5, Psalms 35:27, Psalms 102:13, Psalms 102:14, Psalms 122:6, Ecclesiastes 7:18

ye have no: Ezra 4:3, Acts 8:21

memorial: Exodus 28:29, Leviticus 2:2, Leviticus 24:7, Numbers 10:10, Isaiah 56:5, Zechariah 6:14, Acts 10:4, Acts 10:31, When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words, Psalms 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, Esther 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.

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:3 - prosper Exodus 39:7 - a memorial Leviticus 26:9 - for I Joshua 22:25 - ye have Isaiah 36:5 - that