Chapter 2

1
Nisan Esth 3:7

the twentieth Neh 1:1; Ezra 7:1, Ezra 7:7

I took up Neh 1:11; Gen 40:11, Gen 40:21


2
Why is thy Gen 40:7

sorrow Prov 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.


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

the city Neh 1:3; Ps 102:14, Ps 137:6; Lam 2:9

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


4
For what 1Kgs 3:5; Esth 5:3, Esth 5:6, Esth 7:2; Mark 10:51

So I prayed Neh 1:4, Neh 1:11; 2Sam 15:31; Prov 3:6; Phil 4:6


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

and if thy Ruth 2:13; 2Sam 14:22; Prov 3:4


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 Neh 2:4, Neh 1:11; Isa 58:12, Isa 61:4, Isa 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. Neh 5:14, Neh 13:6


7
let letters Neh 2:9; Ezra 6:6, Ezra 7:21

that they may Ezra 8:22


8
the wall Neh 2:17, Neh 3:1-32

the house Neh 3:7, Neh 7:2

the king Neh 2:18; Gen 32:28; Ezra 5:5, Ezra 6:22, Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:9, Ezra 7:27-28; Prov 21:1; Isa 66:14; Dan 1:9; Acts 7:10, Acts 26:22; 2Cor 8:16


9
to the governors Neh 2:7

Now the Ezra 8:22


10
Sanballat Neh 2:19, Neh 4:1-3, Neh 4:7, Neh 6:1

Horonite Isa 15:5; Jer 48:5, Jer 48:34

the servant Prov 30:22; Eccl 10:7

the Ammonite Neh 13:1

it grieved Num 22:3-4; Ps 112:10, Ps 122:6-9; Prov 27:4; Ezek 25:6-8; Mic 7:9-10, Mic 7:16-17; Acts 4:2, Acts 5:24, Acts 19:26-27

there was come Ezra 4:4-23


11
Ezra 8:32


12
I arose Gen 32:22-24; Josh 10:9; Judg 6:27, Judg 9:32; Matt 2:14

neither Eccl 3:7; Amos 5:13; Mic 7:5; Matt 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; Ps 51:18, Ps 122:6; Jer 31:33, Jer 32:40; 2Cor 8:16; Jas 1:16-17; Rev 17:17


13
the gate Neh 2:15, Neh 3:13; 2Chr 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. Neh 3:13-14, Neh 12:31

the walls Neh 2:3, Neh 2:17, Neh 1:3; Jer 5:10


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. Neh 3:15; 2Kgs 18:17, 2Kgs 20:20; 2Chr 32:30

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


15
the brook The brook Kidron, 2Sam 15:23; Jer 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. Neh 2:13


16
the rulers Neh 2:12


17
Ye see Lam 2:2, Lam 2:8-9, Lam 3:51

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

a reproach Neh 1:3; 1Sam 11:2; Ps 44:13, Ps 79:4, Ps 79:12, Ps 89:50-51; Jer 24:9; Lam 3:45-46; Ezek 5:14, Ezek 22:4-5


18
the hand Neh 2:8

So they strengthened 2Sam 2:7; 1Chr 11:10, 1Chr 19:13; 2Chr 32:5; Ezra 6:22; Hag 1:13-14; Eph 6:10; Phil 2:13


19
Sanballat Neh 2:10, Neh 6:1-2

Geshem Neh 6:9, Gashmu

they Job 30:1; Ps 44:13-14, Ps 79:4, Ps 80:6; Jer 20:8; Mark 5:40; Heb 11:36

will ye rebel Neh 6:6; Ezra 4:15-16; Luke 23:2; John 19:12; Acts 24:5


20
The God Neh 2:4; 2Chr 26:5; Ps 20:5, Ps 35:27, Ps 102:13-14, Ps 122:6; Eccl 7:18

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

memorial Exod 28:29; Lev 2:2, Lev 24:7; Num 10:10; Isa 56:5; Zech 6:14; Acts 10:4, Acts 10:31; When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words, Ps 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, Esth 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.


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