a2:1
b2:2
cEzra 4:21-22
d2:3
eDan 2:4
f2:4
g2:5
hEzra 4:17-23
i2:6
j5:14
k2:8

‏ Nehemiah 2:1-8

2:1  a never ... sad in his presence: A servant was not to let his personal life interfere with serving the king.
2:2  b Nehemiah was terrified because he had let his sadness show, and he did not know how the king would respond if he told him the reason for his sorrow (King Artaxerxes had previously ordered that Jerusalem not be rebuilt, Ezra 4:21-22  c). Nehemiah was not putting on an act; his deep mourning showed despite his best efforts to conceal it.
2:3  d Nehemiah affirmed his loyalty with the customary long live the king (cp. Dan 2:4  e), yet he did not deny his sadness.
2:4  f With a prayer: The king was subject to the God of heaven, and Nehemiah needed God’s guidance and provision as he made his request.
2:5  g send me to Judah to rebuild the city: Artaxerxes’ openness to this proposal seems surprising in light of Jerusalem’s history of rebellions against Persia (Ezra 4:17-23  h). The king might have viewed Nehemiah’s plan as a way to solidify his own control over a troubled area of his empire.
2:6  i How long will you be gone? (see 5:14  j): Nehemiah probably requested a short period of time initially, later asking for an extension.
2:8  k Temple fortress might refer to the Tower of Hananel or the Tower of the Hundred.

• the gracious hand of God was on me: Nehemiah knew that the king granted these requests because God was sovereignly guiding the king to do so.
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