1.
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 beforetime sad in his presence.
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
2.
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,
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
3.
And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
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
4.
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
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
5.
And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
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
6.
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.
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
7.
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;
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
8.
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 good hand of my God upon me.
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
9.
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.
to the governors: Nehemiah 2:7
Now the: Ezra 8:22
Reciprocal: Jeremiah 30:21 - nobles
10.
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
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
11.
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12.
And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
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
13.
And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
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
14.
Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
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
15.
Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
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
16.
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
the rulers: Nehemiah 2:12
Reciprocal: Exodus 24:11 - nobles
17.
Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
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
18.
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
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
19.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
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
20.
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
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