The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:8

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The king's forest. Patrick supposes the forest on Mount Lebanon to be intended; but Nehemiah would scarcely have desired to transport timber for ordinary building purposes from such a distance. Moreover, the word used is one not applicable to a natural forest, but only to a park, or pleasure-ground planted with trees, and surrounded by a fence or wall. The word is pardes, the Hebrew representative of that Persian term which the Greeks rendered by παράδεισος, whence our "paradise." We must understand a royal park in the vicinity of Jerusalem, of which a Jew, Asaph, was the keeper. The palace which appertained to the house. The "house" here spoken of is undoubtedly the temple; and the birah, appertaining to it is, almost certainly, the fortress at the north-west angle of the temple area, which at once commanded and protected it. Josephus says ('Ant. Jud.,' 15.11, § 4) that this fortress was called βάρις originally. In Roman times it was known as the "Turris Antonia." The house that I shall enter into. The governor's residence. Nehemiah assumes that the powers for which he asks involve his being appointed governor of Judaea. The king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. Through God's special favour towards me, the king was induced to grant my request.

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Nehemiah 2:1-8Our prayers must be seconded with serious endeavours, else we mock God. We are not limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty to go to him at all times; approaches to the throne o…Matthew Henry commentaryNehemiah's Request to the King. (b. c. 445.)NEHEMIAH'S REQUEST TO THE KING. (B. C. 445.) When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words (Psalm 51:18, Build thou the walls of Jerusalem), he did not sit still and say, "Let G…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Gaining the cause. It was a time of great suspense, hardest of all things for human hearts to bear. The future of Jerusalem now hung on the building of the wall, and this depended on Nehemiah's personal interposition an…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Sadness. I. THAT IT WAS THE OUTCOME OF A TRUE PATRIOTISM (Nehemiah 2:2). This sadness was not occasioned by temporal loss, by domestic bereavement, or by unfaithful friendship, but by the desolated condition of Jerusale…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Prayer answered. Three or four months bad passed since Nehemiah first heard of the distressed condition of his brethren at Jerusalem, and began to pray for them, and that he might be permitted to visit and relieve them.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8These verses describe the circumstances in which Nehemiah obtained his commission as restorer of Jerusalem. They show that he was prospered, and that his prosperity was due to the blessing of God. We may notice— I. The…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:8Success ascribed to God. "And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." Nehemiah, like Ezra before him (Ezra 7:6), ascribes the success of his application to the king to the "good hand of God;"…Joseph S. Exell and contributors