Nehemiah 2:17 - Exposition

Then said I unto them . Ewald boldly assumes that this happened the next day; but there is nothing to show that it was so soon. The original contains, no note of time—not even the word "then." Nehemiah simply says, "And I said to them." The distress . Or "affliction," as the word is translated in Nehemiah 1:3 . No special suffering seems to be intended, beyond that of lying open to attack, and being a "reproach" in the sight of the heathen. Lieth waste . On this hyperbole see the comment upon Nehemiah 1:3 .