Matthew Poole Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1 - 2:1

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1 - 2:1


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NEHEMIAH CHAPTER 2



Artaxerxes, understanding the cause of Nehemiah’s sadness, Neh_2:1-5, sendeth him with letters to Jerusalem, Neh_2:6-8. Nehemiah, to the grief of the enemies, cometh to Jerusalem, Neh_2:9-11, and secretly by night vieweth the ruins of Jerusalem, Neh_2:12-16. He encourageth the Jews to build, Neh_2:17,18. The enemies, deriding, charge them with rebellion against the king, Neh_2:19. Nehemiah’s answer, Neh_2:20.



In the month Nisan; which was four months after he had heard those sad tidings. 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 God’s 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 king’s indisposition, or occasions, or multitude of attendants, among whom there probably were divers enemies to the Jews, who, he feared, might hinder his design and desire.



In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes; 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 fifth 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 Mnemon.