Nehemiah 2:19-4:23 NIV

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Nehemiah 2:1-20

CHAPTER 2 1. The King’s question (Nehemiah 2:1-2 ) 2. The King’s permission (Nehemiah 2:3-8 ) 3. The arrival in Jerusalem and the night-ride (Nehemiah 2:9-16 ) 4. The resolution to build the wall (Nehemiah 2:17-18 ) 5. The ridicule of the enemy, and Nehemiah’s answer (Nehemiah 2:19-20 ) Nehemiah 2:1-2 . The last sentence of the previous chapter, “For I was the king’s cupbearer,” belongs to this chapter. Nehemiah is seen exercising the functions of the King’s cupbearer to minister to... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Nehemiah 2:19

2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and {h} Geshem the Arabian, heard [it], they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What [is] this thing that ye do? will ye {i} rebel against the king?(h) These were three chief governors under the king of Persia beyond the Euphrates.(i) Thus the wicked when they will burden the children of God, always lay treason to their charge both because it makes them most odious to the world, and also stirs the hatred of... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:1-20

This exercise of Nehemiah continued for four months following the information he received, and finally came to a head in the month Nisan (corresponding to March or April), when Nehemiah was serving wine to the king and the king observed that his face was sad (v. 1). When the king asked him why he was sad, he became dreadfully afraid, for one to appear to be sad in the presence of the king might be considered a mortal offense, and a proud king may have condemned to death such a person. ... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1-20

BUILDING THE WALLS PRAYER AND ITS ANSWER (Nehemiah 1-2:8) In this book it is to be kept in mind that the previous commissions to Zembbabel and Ezra concerned only the repair of the temple at Jerusalem, and certain internal arrangements for the moral and material well-being of the people in their home towns. The walls and gates of the city, however, were still in the ruined condition in which they were left by Nebuchadnezzar after the siege. The consequences were detrimental to the people’s... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Nehemiah 2:1-20

Nehemiah 2:0 "And it came to pass in the month Nisan [the name given by the Persian Jews to the month previously called "Abib," the first month of the Jewish year, or that which followed the vernal equinox. It fell four months after Chisleu (see ch. Neh 1:1 )], in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes [it is generally agreed that the Artaxerxes intended is Longimanus, who reigned from b.c. 465 to b.c. 425] the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king" ( Neh... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Nehemiah 2:19-20

(19) But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, 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? (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. There is somewhat very striking in Nehemiah's answer to the enemies of God... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:19

Arabian governor. He afterwards accuses Nehemias, chap. vi. 6. (Calmet) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 2:19-20

19,20 The enmity of the serpent's seed against the cause of Christ is confined to no age or nation. The application to ourselves is plain. The church of God asks for our help. Is it not desolate, and exposed to assaults? Does the consideration of its low estate cause you any grief? Let not business, pleasure, or the support of a party so engage attention, as that Zion and her welfare shall be nothing to you. read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Nehemiah 2:1-99

Nehemiah 2 THE KING'S CUP-BEARER of those days had to be a man of integrity, who would see that nothing undesirable or poisonous was inserted into the King's wine. The tidings he had just received had so affected him that his sorrow was seen in his face. Noticing it, the king was of course suspicious and enquired what moved him to sorrow; as we see in the opening verses of chapter 2. A position was thus created that had definite danger in it, and Nehemiah was 'very sore afraid'. However, he... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Nehemiah 2:9-20

Nehemiah Arrives at Jerusalem v. 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, not only on account of his rank as cupbearer of the king, but also as deputy governor of Judea, which he was on this trip. v. 10. When Sanballat the Horonite, apparently a Moabite, and Tobiah, the servant, the Ammonite, a freedman raised to some official dignity, assistant to the former, who seems to have been... read more