Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Nehemiah Chapter 2
Overview
Neh 2:1, Artaxerxes, understanding the cause of Nehemiah's sadness, sends him with letters and commission to Jerusalem; Neh 2:9, Nehemiah, to the grief of the enemies, comes to Jerusalem; Neh 2:12, He views secretly the ruins of the walls; Neh 2:17, He incites the Jews to build.
Nisan: Est 3:7
the twentieth: Neh 1:1; Ezr 7:1, Ezr 7:7
I took up: Neh 1:11; Gen 40:11, Gen 40:21
Why is thy: Gen 40:7
sorrow: Pro 15:13
Then I: Probably the king spoke as if he had some suspicion that Nehemiah harboured some bad design, and that his face indicated some conceived treachery, or remorse; and, indeed, the words rendered sad, and sorrow of heart, might be rendered evil, and wickedness of heart.
Let the king: Far from wishing ill to my master, I wish him to live forever. Kg1 1:31; Dan 2:4, Dan 3:9, Dan 5:10, Dan 6:6, Dan 6:21
the city: Neh 1:3; Psa 102:14, Psa 137:6; Lam 2:9
the place: Ch2 21:20, Ch2 28:27, Ch2 32:33
For what: Kg1 3:5; Est 5:3, Est 5:6, Est 7:2; Mar 10:51
So I prayed: Neh 1:4, Neh 1:11; Sa2 15:31; Pro 3:6; Phi 4:6
If it please: Ezr 5:17; Est 1:19, Est 5:8, Est 7:3, Est 8:5
and if thy: Rut 2:13; Sa2 14:22; Pro 3:4
the queen: Heb. the wife, It was probably Esther who was present at this time, and who seconded Nehemiah's request.
So it pleased: Neh 2:4, Neh 1:11; Isa 58:12, Isa 61:4, Isa 65:24
I set him a time: It is probable that this time was no more than six months, or a year; after which he either returned, or had his leave of absence lengthened, as we find he was twelve years governor of the Jews. Neh 5:14, Neh 13:6
let letters: Neh 2:9; Ezr 6:6, Ezr 7:21
that they may: Ezr 8:22
the wall: Neh 2:17, 3:1-32
the king: Neh 2:18; Gen 32:28; Ezr 5:5, Ezr 6:22, Ezr 7:6, Ezr 7:9, Ezr 7:27, Ezr 7:28; Pro 21:1; Isa 66:14; Dan 1:9; Act 7:10, Act 26:22; Co2 8:16
to the governors: Neh 2:7
Now the: Ezr 8:22
Sanballat: Neh 2:19, Neh 4:1-3, Neh 4:7, Neh 6:1
Horonite: Isa 15:5; Jer 48:5, Jer 48:34
the servant: Pro 30:22; Ecc 10:7
the Ammonite: Neh 13:1
it grieved: Num 22:3, Num 22:4; Psa 112:10, Psa 122:6-9; Pro 27:4; Eze 25:6-8; Mic 7:9, Mic 7:10, Mic 7:16, Mic 7:17; Act 4:2, Act 5:24, Act 19:26, Act 19:27
there was come: Ezra 4:4-23
I arose: Gen 32:22-24; Jos 10:9; Jdg 6:27, Jdg 9:32; Mat 2:14
neither: Ecc 3:7; Amo 5:13; Mic 7:5; Mat 10:16
my God: This pious and noble-minded man attributes every thing to God. If he purposed any good, it was because God put it into his heart; if he did or received any good, it was because the good hand of his God was upon him; if he expected any good, it was because he earnestly prayed God to remember him for good. Ezr 7:27; Psa 51:18, Psa 122:6; Jer 31:33, Jer 32:40; Co2 8:16; Jam 1:16, Jam 1:17; Rev 17:17
the gate: Neh 2:15, Neh 3:13; Ch2 26:9
the dung port: This was the gate on the eastern side of the city, through which the filth was carried to the brook Kidron and valley of Hinnom. Neh 3:13, Neh 3:14, Neh 12:31
the walls: Neh 2:3, Neh 2:17, Neh 1:3; Jer 5:10
the gate of the fountain: The gate leading either to the fountain of Siloam, on the east of the city, or to that of Gihon, on the west. Neh 3:15; Kg2 18:17, Kg2 20:20; Ch2 32:30
the king's pool: Probably the aqueduct made by Hezekiah to bring the waters of Gihon to the city of David.
the brook: The brook Kidron, Sa2 15:23; Jer 31:38-40; Joh 18:1
the gate: The gate leading to the valley of Jehoshaphat, east of the city, through which the brook Kidron flows. It was by this gate he went out; so that he went round the whole of the city, and entered by the same gate. Neh 2:13
the rulers: Neh 2:12
Ye see: Lam 2:2, Lam 2:8, Lam 2:9, Lam 3:51
come: Ezr 5:1, Ezr 5:2, Ezr 10:2-4; Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4
a reproach: Neh 1:3; Sa1 11:2; Psa 44:13, Psa 79:4, Psa 79:12, Psa 89:50, Psa 89:51; Jer 24:9; Lam 3:45, Lam 3:46; Eze 5:14, Eze 22:4, Eze 22:5
the hand: Neh 2:8
So they strengthened: Sa2 2:7; Ch1 11:10, Ch1 19:13; Ch2 32:5; Ezr 6:22; Hag 1:13, Hag 1:14; Eph 6:10; Phi 2:13
Sanballat: Neh 2:10, Neh 6:1, Neh 6:2
Geshem: Neh 6:9, Gashmu
they: Job 30:1; Psa 44:13, Psa 44:14, Psa 79:4, Psa 80:6; Jer 20:8; Mar 5:40; Heb 11:36
will ye rebel: Neh 6:6; Ezr 4:15, Ezr 4:16; Luk 23:2; Joh 19:12; Act 24:5
The God: Neh 2:4; Ch2 26:5; Psa 20:5, Psa 35:27, Psa 102:13, Psa 102:14, Psa 122:6; Ecc 7:18
memorial: Exo 28:29; Lev 2:2, Lev 24:7; Num 10:10; Isa 56:5; Zac 6:14; Act 10:4, Act 10:31; When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words, Psa 51:18, he did not sit still and say, "Let God now do his own work, for I have no more to do;" but set himself to do what he could towards it; and here we find that the people were of one heart with Nehemiah. Our prayers must be seconded with our serious endeavours, or else we mock God. Nearly four months had passed, namely, from Chisleu to Nisan (November to March), before Nehemiah made his application to the king for leave to go to Jerusalem; either because the winter was not a proper time for such a journey, and he would not make a motion till he could pursue it, or because it was so long before his month of waiting upon the king came, and there was no coming into his presence until called for, Est 4:11. We are not thus limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty of access to him at all times; to the throne of grace we never come unseasonably.