Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah's Request to Artaxerxes

¹In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence.

²The king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

³I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?”

⁴Then the king said to me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

⁵I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.”

⁶The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him.

⁷Moreover I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah;

⁸and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will occupy.” The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

Nehemiah's Journey to Jerusalem

⁹Then 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 Ammonite servant heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

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

¹²I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There wasn’t any animal with me except the animal that I rode on.

¹³I went out by night by the valley gate toward the jackal’s well, then to the dung gate; and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire.

¹⁴Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.

¹⁵Then I went up in the night by the brook and inspected the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.

¹⁶The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did. I had not as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.

The Call to Rebuild the Wall

¹⁷Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let’s build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won’t be disgraced.”

¹⁸I told them about the hand of my God which was good on me, and also about the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

¹⁹But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”

²⁰Then I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”

Previous Nehemiah 1

Next Nehemiah 3

Nehemiah courageously approaches King Artaxerxes with his request to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, demonstrating remarkable faith and strategic planning. After receiving royal permission and resources, Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem where he conducts a secret nighttime inspection of the city's damaged fortifications. The chapter concludes with Nehemiah rallying the Jewish leaders and people to undertake the monumental task of reconstruction, marking the beginning of Jerusalem's physical and spiritual restoration.

Context

This chapter transitions from Nehemiah's initial grief and prayer in chapter 1 to the active implementation of God's calling, setting the stage for the detailed reconstruction efforts that follow.

Key Themes

Outline

1-8
Nehemiah's Request to Artaxerxes Nehemiah boldly asks the Persian king for permission and resources to rebuild Jerusalem, receiving favorable response through divine providence.
9-10
Journey to Jerusalem and Early Opposition Nehemiah travels with royal escort to Jerusalem, immediately encountering hostility from regional opponents Sanballat and Tobiah.
11-16
Secret Inspection of the Walls Nehemiah conducts a covert nighttime survey of Jerusalem's broken walls and burned gates to assess the scope of needed repairs.
17-20
The Call to Rebuild Nehemiah publicly challenges the people to rebuild the wall, sharing God's favor and the king's support, inspiring them to begin the work.

Nehemiah's Request to Artaxerxes

2:1–2:8

narrative dialogue hopeful

Nehemiah courageously presents his request to King Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem, receiving royal approval and resources. God's providential hand is evident in the king's favorable response.

person_contrast

Nehemiah transforms from cupbearer to construction manager in eight verses, uniquely combining his roles as royal servant and Jewish leader when requesting timber, letters, and military escort.

Nehemiah's Journey to Jerusalem

2:9–2:16

narrative narration contemplative

Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and secretly surveys the damaged walls by night, while facing initial opposition from local leaders. His careful reconnaissance demonstrates wise leadership preparation for the rebuilding project.

person_contrast

Nehemiah's nocturnal reconnaissance in verses 12-15 uniquely combines military strategy with divine guidance, as he alone surveys Jerusalem's ruins while emphasizing God's hand upon him.

The Call to Rebuild the Wall

2:17–2:20

narrative speech urgent

Nehemiah calls the people to rebuild Jerusalem's wall despite opposition from local enemies. He emphasizes God's blessing and their divine mandate to restore the city.

person_contrast

Nehemiah's rallying cry "Come, let's build" (Hebrew *niv'neh*) echoes God's covenant language from Genesis, transforming construction vocabulary into covenant renewal terminology.

Insight Character Study

Nehemiah transforms from cupbearer to construction manager in eight verses, uniquely combining his roles as royal servant and Jewish leader when requesting timber, letters, and military escort.

Insight Character Study

Nehemiah's nocturnal reconnaissance in verses 12-15 uniquely combines military strategy with divine guidance, as he alone surveys Jerusalem's ruins while emphasizing God's hand upon him.

Insight Character Study

Nehemiah's rallying cry "Come, let's build" (Hebrew *niv'neh*) echoes God's covenant language from Genesis, transforming construction vocabulary into covenant renewal terminology.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Nehemiah 2:4 1 reference

Lexicals 1

2 Chronicles 7:14 Lexical

if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then…

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah's Request to Artaxerxes

Nehemiah's Journey to Jerusalem

The Call to Rebuild the Wall

Nehemiah's Request to Artaxerxes

Nehemiah's Journey to Jerusalem

The Call to Rebuild the Wall

Insights

Cross-References

Nehemiah 2:4 1 reference

Nehemiah 2:7 2 references

Nehemiah 2:9 4 references

Nehemiah 2:10 4 references

Nehemiah 2:13 5 references

Nehemiah 2:15 5 references

Nehemiah 2:16 2 references

Nehemiah 2:17 5 references

Nehemiah 2:19 5 references

Nehemiah 2:20 1 reference

Interlinear

Historical Context