Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 2

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.

Which was four months after he had heard those sad ridings. The reason of this long silence and delay might be manifold; either because he thought fit that some time should be spent by himself and possibly others of his brethren in seeking God by solemn Prayer and fasting for Gods blessing and the good success of this great affair: or because he could not take so long and dangerous a journey in the depth of Winter: or because his turn of attending upon the King did not come to him till that time: or because till then he wanted a fit opportunity to move it to the King by reason of the Kings indisposition or occasions or multitude of attendants, among whom there probably were diverse enemies to the Jews who, he feared, might hinder his design and desire.

Artaxerxes Longimanus the Son of the great Xerxes, who reigned both with his Father and after his death alone: whence the years of his reign are computed two ways, one from the death of Xerxes; and the other from his first entrance upon the administration of the Kingdom, which was committed to him in the 5th year of Xerxes when he began the Grecian war and left his Son King or Viceroy in his stead, as the manner of the Persians was. It may seem doubtful and is not much material which way of computation is here used. Others understand this of Artaxerxes Nemon.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 3. 7.

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 ,

His fasting joyned with inward grief had made a sensible change in his very countenance.

Partly being daunted by the Majesty of the King and the suddenness and sharpness of his question: partly fearing lest there was arising some jealousy or ill opinion in the King concerning him; partly because it was an unusual and ungrateful thing to come into the King of Persia's presence with any badges or tokens of sorrow, Esth. 4. 2. and principally from his doubts or fears of disappointment, because his request was great and invidious and odious to the most of the Persian Courtiers, and might be represented as dangerous, and might seem improper for a time of feasting and jollity.

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 sepulchers , lieth wast, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire.

My sadness comes not from any discontent with my own condition or any disaffection to the King, for whom my hearty Prayers are that he may live for ever, but from another cause.

Which by all Nations are esteemed sacred and inviolable and honourable. He saith not a word of the Temple or of Religion, for he wisely considered that he spake before a heathen King and Court who cared for none of those things.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. 31. [illegible: 1 word] 2. 4. & [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word].

4 Then the King said unto me, For what dost thou make request? so I prayed to the God of heaven ?

To direct my thoughts and words, and to incline the Kings heart to grant my request.

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 sepulchers, that I may build it.

My request whatsoever it is I humbly and wholly submit it to the Kings good pleasure being resolved to acquiesce in it.

I pretend no merit, but am an humble suppliant for thy grace and favour, whereof having received some tokens I am thereby emboldened to make this further request.

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 .

Which is here noted, partly as an unusual thing; for commonly the Kings of Persia dined alone, and their Queens seldom dined with them, as Historians note: and peradventure, because the Queen expressed some kindness to him and promoted his request with the King.

This question shewed the Kings respect and affection to him, and that he was not willing to want his attendance longer than was necessary.

Either that 12 years mentioned, ch. 5. 14. & 13. 6. or rather a far shorter time: for which cause▪ among others, he built the walls with such dispatch, even in 52 days, ch. 6. 15. and probably not very long after that returned to the King, by whom he was sent a second time with more ample Commission and for the Kings service and the Government of that part of his dominions.

Marginal references: Heb wife.

7. Moreover, I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to governours beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah:

That they may safely conduct me through their several territories.

8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the kings forrest, 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.

Of the forest of Libanus famous for pleasure and for plenty of choice trees.

To wit of the Kings palace, which was adjoyning to the house of God. Or, of the Tower or sence belonging to the house of God, to wit, for the gates of the Courts of the Temple: for though the Temple was built, the Courts and other buildings belonging to the Temple might yet be unfinished.

Wherewith I may build an house in which I may dwell whilst I am there, and which I may dispose of as I see fit.

Marginal references: Heb. of the kings orchard. So Gr.; Ezr. 7. 9.

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.

So called either from his family, or from the place of his birth or rule, which is supposed to be Horonaim, an eminent City of Moab, Isa. 15. 5. Ier. 48. 3.

So called probably from his servile original, or condition from which he was advanced to his present power and dignity: which also may be mentioned as one reason why he now carried himself so insolently and perversly towards the Jews; it being, usual for Persons suddenly raised from a mean to an high estate so to demean themselves.

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days .

Resting my self after my long journey and enquiring into the state of the City.

12 And I arose in the night , I and some few men with me, neither told I any man what God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon .

Concealing both his intentions and actions as far and as long as he could, as knowing that the life of his business lay in secrecy, and expedition,

To prevent noise and the notice of what I did.

13 And I went out by night , by the gate of the valley , even before the dragon-well , and to the dungport , and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

The footmen which accompanied him directing and leading him in the way. His design was to go round about the City, to observe the compass and condition of the Walls and Gates, that he might make sufficient provisions for the work.

Of which see ch. 3. 13.

A fountain or water so called either from some figure of a Dragon or Serpent which was by it: or from some living Dragon which abode there when the City was desolate: for Dragons delight to be in desolate places▪ and nigh to springs of water, as divers have observed.

Through which they used to carry the dung out of the City.

14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain , and to the kings pool : but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass .

i. e. Which led to the fountain, to wit, of Siloah or Gihon.

That which King Hezekiah had made: of which see 2 Chron. 32. 3. 30.

The way being obstructed with heaps of rubbish.

15 Then went I up in the night by the brook , and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entred by the gate of the valley, and so returned .

Of Kidron; of which see on 2 Sam. 15. 23.

Having gone found about the City.

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 .

Or, were to do, or should do, i. e. Whom he intended to imploy in it.

Here following of building the Walls.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian i 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 ?

Do you design to fortify this City against the King?

k Either the Kings Lieutenant in Arabia, as Tobiah was among the Ammonites, and Sanballat among the Moabites: Or rather an Arabian by his birth. And it seems probable that both he, and Sanballat, and Tobiah were chief men or Governours among the Samaritans, or in their Army. See ch. 4. 1, 2, 3.

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.

You have no authority over us, nor interest in our Church or State, or City, but are meer aliens from the Common-Wealth of Israel. We disown and detest that mungrel-Worship and Religion which you have set up. We desire not your favour, or friendship, or help in this matter. And you have nothing to do to enquire into, or meddle with our concerns, or to hinder us in our present undertaking.

Here no Testimony or Monument either of your Relation to us by Birth or Religion, or of your kindness to us or to this place. But we have many memorials of your Malice and Enmity against us.

Marginal references: Ezra 4. 3.