Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 2:6

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.