THE

BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.

ARGUMENT.

As the book of Ezra gave us a history of the first restoration of the Jewish people after the Babylonish captivity, of their return to Judea, and the building of the second temple; so this of Nehemiah, who came into Judea about thirteen years after him, and succeeded him in the government there, contains a further account of their settlement in Jerusalem, particularly with respect to the building of the wall of the city, and the reformation of several corruptions which had crept in among them.

That Nehemiah himself, whose actions are recorded in this book, was the author of it, there can be no reasonable doubt: for he says as much in the beginning of it, and all along relates what he did in his own person in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and in other things. But, as has been intimated in the note on Ezra ii. 2, there is great reason to suppose he was not the same person. with the Nehemiah mentioned Ezra ii. 1, and chap. vii. 7 of this book, who returned with Zerubbabel. For, since from the first of Cyrus, (when Zerubbabel returned,) to the twentieth of Artaxerxes Longimanus, there are no less than ninety-two years intervening, that Nehemiah must have been a very old man; upon the lowest computation above a hundred, and consequently incapable of being the king's cup-bearer, which this Nehemiah was, of taking a journey from Shushan to Jerusalem, and of behaving there with all that courage and activity which is recorded of him. We may conclude, therefore, that this was a different person, though of the same name. In this Nehemiah we have the shining character of an able governor and true patriot, deeply concerned for the good of his country and the honour of religion; choosing to leave an honourable and profitable post in the greatest court in the world, and generously spending the riches he had gained in it for the public benefit of his fellow-Israelites, and encountering also, for the same end, inexpressible difficulties, and that with a courage and spirit very extraordinary and wonderful, but such as were absolutely necessary to reform the manners, and procure the safety, of such a nation as the Jews were.

It has been universally observed, that the Jews never fell into any of their old idolatries after the time of the great Babylonish captivity; one great cause of which good effect, under God, without doubt, was the exceeding great zeal manifested, and care taken, by Ezra and Nehemiah, to instruct them in the law of God, and to give an early and vigorous check to the dangerous practice of marrying into heathen families. Of Nehemiah's cares and labours to accomplish these purposes we have a full account in these his commentaries, wherein he records not only the works of his hands, but the very workings of his heart, inserting many devout reflections and ejaculations, which are peculiar to his writings. Twelve years he was the tirshatha, or governor, of Judea, under the same Artaxerxes, as is probable, that gave Ezra his commission. We have in this book his concern for Jerusalem, and commission to go thither, chap. i., ii.; his building the wall of Jerusalem, notwithstanding much opposition, chap. iii., iv.; his redressing the grievances of the people, chap. v.; his finishing the wall, chap. vi.; the account he took of the people, chap. vii.; his calling the people to read the law, fast, and pray, and renew their covenant, chap. viii.-x. He peoples Jerusalem, and settles the tribe of Levi, chap. xi., xii. He reforms divers abuses, chap. xiii. After Nehemiah we read of no more governors appointed over Judea by the Persian kings: but their affairs seem to have been left to the management of the high-priests, as we find they were in the following times of the Maccabees. This is the last historical book of the Old Testament that was written, as Malachi is the last prophetical book,

422

2

Nehemiah's prayer and

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.

supplication to God.

A. M. 3558.
B. C. 446.

Nehemiah is informed of the deplorable state of the Jews at Jerusalem, 1-3. He fasts and prays, 4–11.

THE words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jeru

NOTES ON CHAPTER I.

love him and observe his command- A. M. 3558. ments:

B. C. 446.

6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

7h We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, * If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

k

neighbouring nations.

5.- - Deut. xxviii. 15.
xxviii. 64.

m Deut. xxx. 4

k Lev.

Lev. xxvi. 39, &c.;

The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, &c.-The walls and gates continue as the Chaldeans left them after their conquest of the city, the Jews not being in a condition to rebuild them, nor having commission from the kings of Persia to do so, but only to build the temple, and their own private houses. This made their condition both very despicable, under the abiding marks of poverty and slavery, and very dangerous, for their enemies might, when they pleased, make an easy prey of them.

Verse 1. The words of Nehemiah-Or, the acts,|| as the Hebrew word here used often signifies; that is, the things which Nehemiah did. In the month Chisler-Which answers to part of our November and December. In the twentieth year-Namely, of the reign of Artaxerxes. As I was in Shushan the palace-In the region of Elimais, where the Persian kings kept their court in the winter, and which, from its pleasant and beautiful situation, was called by heathen writers Susa, which signifies a lily, or, as Athenæus says, a rose. Verse 4. When I heard these words I sat downVerse 2. I asked them concerning the Jews that Probably upon the ground, as the manner was, in had escaped-Either concerning those who were great sorrow, and perhaps in ashes; and wept and not carried captives when others were, but remained mourned certain days-Thus the desolations and disin the land; or rather, those that had escaped out of tresses of the church of Christ ought to be the matthe slavery which they had endured in Assyria, Ba-ter of our grief, how much soever we live at ease. bylon, and other strange lands. Which were left of And fasted and prayed-Not in public, which he the captivity-The remnant of those numerous cap-had no opportunity of doing, but before the God tives, now returned and settled in Jerusalem, and of heaven-Who sees in secret, and will reward other parts of Judea. Though Nehemiah lived in ease, honour, and affluence himself, he could not for- Verse 6. Which I pray before thee night and day get that he was an Israelite, nor shake off the-He refers to all the prayers which he had for some thoughts of his brethren, or his concern for their time been addressing to God, during his sorrow for welfare. He therefore inquires in what condition the desolations of Jerusalem. they were, and whether Jerusalem was again become a flourishing city.

Verse 3. They said, The remnant that are left in the province-In Judea, which was now made a province under the Persian kings; are in great affliction and reproach—Despised and distressed by the

openly.

Verse 9. But if ye turn unto me, I will gather them from thence, &c.-This promise made by Moses he trusted God would fulfil, as he had the threatening. It is to be observed, that Nehemiah was directed in this prayer to God, and in his efforts for the restoration of Jerusalem, by the predictions

The king inquires into the

B. C. 446.

B. C. 446.

4. M. 3558. and will bring them unto the place that || ear be attentive to the prayer of thy A. M. 3558. I have chosen to set my name there. servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was 11 O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine the king's cup-bearer.

10 "Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

n Deut. ix. 29; Dan. ix. 15. Verse 6.

p Isa. xxvi. 8; Heb. xiii. 18.- - Chap. ii. 1.

of Moses, Deut. xxx. 1-4. And he plainly found the || springing from the mercy of God. For I was the truth of that prophecy in the readiness of the king of|| king's cup-bearer-Whereby I had opportunity to Persia to grant his petition, which, no doubt, con- speak to him, and some favour with him, which enfirmed his faith in what Moses there declares. couraged me to make this prayer, and to hope for Verse 10. Whom thou hast redeemed by thy great some success. Many of the Jews, by the singular power, &c.-In days of old, and thy power is still favour of God, obtained considerable dignities in the same; wilt thou not therefore still redeem them, || their captivity, as Daniel and his companions, Zeand perfect their redemption? Let not them be rubbabel and others; among whom was this pious overpowered by the enemy that have a God of infi- man, who was advanced to this office of cup-bearer nite power on their side. when he was but a youth; which, it must be observed, was a place of great honour and advantage in the Persian court, because of the privilege which it gave him who bore it, of being daily in the king's presence, and the opportunity which he had thereby of gaining his favour for the procuring of any petition he should make to him. That it was a place of great temporal advantage, seems evident by Nehemiah's gaining those immense riches which enabled him, for so many years, (chap. v. 14, 19,) out of his own privy purse only, to live in his government with great splendour and expense, without burdening the people at all. See Prideaux, Anno 445.

Verse 11. Who desire to fear thy name-Who are not only called by thy name, but really have a reverence for it: who now worship thee, and thee only, according to thy will, and have an awful sense of all the discoveries which thou art pleased to make of thyself. Those who truly desire to fear his name shall be graciously accepted of God. Grant him || mercy in the sight of this man-The king, upon whom he was going to attend: who, though a god by office, was but a man by nature, and therefore his heart was wholly at God's disposal. Favour with men is then comfortable, when we see it

CHAPTER II.

Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem, with a commission to build the wall, 1-8. He comes thither, to the grief of his enemies, 9-11. He secretly views the ruins of it, 12-16. He informs the rulers of his commission, 17, 18. Answers them that derided him, 19, 20.

A. M. 3559.
B. C. 445.

a

AND

B. C. 445.

ND it came to pass in the month || beforetime sad in his presence. A. M. 3559. Nisan, in the twentieth year of 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art him and I took up the wine, and gave not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of it unto the king. Now I had not been heart. Then I was very sore afraid, b Chap. i. 11.

a Ezra vii. 1.

NOTES ON CHAPTER II.

||

Verse 1. In the month Nisan-Which answers to part of our March and April. So that there were almost four months between the time of his hearing the fore-mentioned sad tidings respecting the defenceless condition in which Jerusalem lay, and his requesting leave of the king to go thither. The reason of this long delay might be, either that his turn of attending upon the king did not come till that time; or, that till then he wanted a fit opportunity to move it to him. That wine was before him a -He was at dinner or supper, and called for wine,

c Prov. xv. 13.

which was ready for him. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence-But always appeared cheerful and well pleased, as young men, so advanced, are wont to do.

Verse 2. The king said, Why is thy counte nance sad?-His fasting, joined with inward grief, had made a sensible change in his countenance. Then I was sore afraid-It was an unusual and ungracious thing to come into the king of Persia's presence with any token of sorrow. And he feared disappointment, because his request was great and invidious, and odious to most of the Persian courtiers.

Artaxerxes grants

B. C. 445.

B. C. 445.

A. M. 3559. 3 And said unto the king, Let the || also sitting by him,) For how long A. M. 3559. king live for ever: why should not my shall thy journey be? and when wilt countenance be sad, when the city, the place thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the and I set him fa time. gates thereof are consumed with fire?

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

5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

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

8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, 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 And the king granted me, And the king granted me, according to

6 And the king said unto me, (the 'queen into.

1 Kings i. 31; Dan. ii. 4; v. 10; vi. 6, 21.- - Chap. i. 3. 1Heb. wife.

h

h Ezra v. 5; vii. 6,

f Chap. v. 14; xiii. 6. Chap. iii. 7.
9, 28; Verse 18.
request, whatever it is, I humbly and wholly subinit
to the king's good pleasure, in which I am resolved
to acquiesce. If thy servant have found favour in
thy sight-I plead no merit, but humbly supplicate
thy grace and favour, of which, having received
some tokens, I am imboldened to make this farther
request. That thou wouldst send me unto Judah,
&c.-Wouldst give me a commission to go and
build the walls of Jerusalem, and thereby make it a
city again, for it is now in a defenceless state, as an
open town, exposed on all sides to the attacks of its
enemies. A generous spirit," says Lord Claren-
don, "can think of nothing but relieving his country
while it is under a general misery and calamity."

Verse 3. Let the king live for ever-My sadness comes not from any disaffection to the king, for whom my hearty prayers are that he may live for ever, but from another cause. Why should I not be sad, when the place of my fathers' sepulchres lieth waste?-Which by all nations are esteemed sacred and inviolable. He says not a word for the temple, as he spake before a heathen king, who cared for none of these things. There is a regard due to one's own country, which ought not to be extinguished by the pleasure or plenty of any other. It is not a weakness to be deeply affected with the distresses, or for the death of our friends and relations, at what distance soever we are from them; nor can any prosperity in another country excuse a man for Verse 6. The queen also sitting by him—Which not being so much afflicted for any calamity that be- || is here noted as an unusual thing, for commonly the falls his own as not to entertain mirth and jollity in kings of Persia dined alone; and perhaps because his heart. Nehemiah was in no mean station when the queen expressed some kindness to him, and prohe was cup-bearer to Artaxerxes, and we may very moted his request. How long shall thy journey be? reasonably suppose, from the grace and bounty-This question showed the king's affection for him, which that great king showed him, that he might and that he was not willing to want his attendance have had any honour or preferment he would have longer than was necessary. So it pleased the king requested in that great and flourishing empire; yet to send me-Having told the king how long he dewhen that great king discerned that there was sired to be absent from his office, the king permitted sorrow of heart in his countenance, and demanded him to go. How long that was, is not certain. But the reason of it, he made no other excuse but, Jeru- it is not likely it was for twelve years, mentioned salem lay waste: and when the king so graciously chap. v. 14, and xiii. 6, but rather, he asked leave for invited him to ask some favour worthy of his royal a year, or perhaps for half that time: which made bounty, he would require nothing else but permis-him so quick in despatching the building of the wall, sion and power to go and relieve his country. The grievances of the church, but especially its desolations, ought to be a grief to all good people, and will to all that have a concern for God's honour, and are of a public spirit.

him

which he finished in fifty-two days, chap. vi. 15. After which, it is likely, he returned to Shushan, according to his appointment, and that the king sent him back as his governor for twelve years; his presence being very serviceable, or perhaps necessary there, for the better ordering of that province to the king's satisfaction.

Verse 4. Then the king said, For what dost thou make request ?-Something thou wouldest have, what is it? The king had an affection for him, and was not pleased to see him dejected, and thus gave encouragement to tell his mind. So I prayed to the God of heaven-I silently in my mind besought God to direct my thoughts and words, and to incline the king's heart to grant my request. Verse 5. I said, If it please the king, &c.-My || give me timber for the gates-The gates of the tem

Verses 7, 8. That they may convey me over till I come into Judah-May conduct me with safety through their several territories, and furnish me with necessaries on my journey. And a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest-The forest of Lebanon, famous for choice trees.

That he may

A. M. 3559. the good hand of my God upon || the dung-port, and viewed the walls A. M. 3559. of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

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.

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to three days.

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

13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon-well, and to

i Ezra viii. 32.- - 2 Chron. xxvi. 9; Chap. iii. 13. Chap. 2 Sam. xv. 23; Jer. xxxi. 40.-
i. 3; Verse 17.- m
Chap. iii. 15.