Nehemiah 2

King James Version

Full text for Nehemiah Chapter 2

1¶ And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that] wine [was] before him: and I took up the wine, and gave [it] unto the king. Now I had not been [beforetime] sad in his presence.

2Wherefore the king said unto me, Why [is] thy countenance sad, seeing thou [art] not sick? this [is] nothing [else] but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

3And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

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

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

6And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

7Moreover 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;

8And 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 into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

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.

10When 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.

11So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

12And 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.

13And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

14Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but [there was] no place for the beast [that was] under me to pass.

15Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and [so] returned.

16And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told [it] to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

17Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

18Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for [this] good [work].

19But 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?

20Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, reveals his deep sorrow over Jerusalem's ruined walls. He requests and receives the king's permission, letters of passage, and timber to go and rebuild the city. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, he secretly inspects the extensive damage to the walls and gates. He then inspires the Jewish leaders and people to begin the work, despite the immediate scorn and opposition from adversaries like Sanballat and Tobiah.

Medium Summary

In the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer, appears visibly sad, prompting the king to inquire about his distress. Nehemiah expresses his grief over Jerusalem, the city of his fathers' sepulchres, lying waste with its gates consumed by fire. After a silent prayer, he requests permission to go to Judah to rebuild the city, along with letters for safe passage and timber from the king's forest. The king grants his requests, recognizing "the good hand of my God upon me," and provides an escort. Upon his arrival, Sanballat and Tobiah are greatly displeased by his mission to seek Israel's welfare. Nehemiah secretly inspects Jerusalem's broken walls by night, then reveals his divine commission and the king's support to the Jewish leaders. He galvanizes them to "rise up and build," strengthening their resolve despite the scorn and accusations of rebellion from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. Nehemiah confidently asserts that God will prosper them and that their adversaries have no claim in Jerusalem.

Long Summary

The chapter opens in the month Nisan, the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, where Nehemiah, serving as the king's cupbearer, appears visibly sad, a state unusual for him in the king's presence. The king, noticing his sorrow, questions its cause, discerning it as "sorrow of heart." Nehemiah, filled with fear, explains that his sadness stems from the desolate state of Jerusalem, the city of his fathers' sepulchres, whose walls are broken down and gates consumed by fire. Prompted by the king's inquiry about his request, Nehemiah silently prays to God before articulating his desire to be sent to Judah to rebuild the city. He further requests royal letters for safe passage through governors beyond the river and a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, for timber to reconstruct the city walls, gates, and his own dwelling. The king, with the queen present, grants these requests, even inquiring about the duration of his journey, a testament to God's favor upon Nehemiah. Accompanied by army captains and horsemen, Nehemiah travels to Judah, delivering the king's letters to the regional governors. His arrival, however, greatly grieves Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite, who resent a man coming to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. After three days in Jerusalem, Nehemiah undertakes a secret night inspection of the city's ruined walls and burned gates, accompanied by only a few men, revealing his purpose to no one yet. He traverses various gates, observing the extensive destruction and the impassable sections. Subsequently, Nehemiah addresses the Jewish leaders, priests, and nobles, vividly describing Jerusalem's dire state as a reproach. He then reveals the favorable hand of God upon him and the king's supportive words, inspiring them to "rise up and build." Their hands are strengthened for this good work. However, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, upon hearing of the rebuilding efforts, mock and despise the Jews, accusing them of rebellion against the king. Nehemiah boldly responds, declaring that "The God of heaven, he will prosper us," and asserts that the adversaries have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.

Core Concepts

  • Divine FavorNehemiah attributes the king's granting of his extensive requests to "the good hand of my God upon me," highlighting God's providential work in opening doors for His servant.
  • Leadership and VisionNehemiah demonstrates effective leadership by first discerning God's will through prayer, then strategically presenting his request to the king, and finally inspiring the people to action after a careful, secret assessment of the task.
  • Opposition to God's WorkFrom the outset, figures like Sanballat and Tobiah express strong displeasure and later mock the rebuilding efforts, illustrating the inherent resistance that often arises against divine initiatives.
  • Strategic PlanningNehemiah's actions, from securing royal decrees and resources to conducting a discreet night inspection of the walls before publicly announcing his plan, showcase a methodical and prudent approach to a daunting task.
  • Call to ActionNehemiah's powerful address to the Jewish leaders, detailing Jerusalem's distress and God's support, effectively galvanizes them to unite and commit to the arduous work of rebuilding the city walls.
  • Confidence in God's ProsperityDespite ridicule and accusations, Nehemiah confidently declares that "The God of heaven, he will prosper us," affirming his faith that divine assistance will ensure the success of the rebuilding project.
  • Identity and ClaimNehemiah firmly asserts that the adversaries have "no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem," emphasizing that the city belongs to God's people and those who serve Him.