John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And it came to pass in the month Nisan; in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes , etc.] It was still but in the twentieth year of his reign; for though Nisan or March was the first month of the year with the Jews, and from whence the reigns of their kings were dated f11 ; yet, with other nations, Tisri or September was the beginning of the reigns of their kings f12 ; so that Chisleu or November being since, (see Nehemiah 1:1), it was no more in Nisan or March than the twentieth of the said king’s reign, and was three or four months after Nehemiah had first heard of the distress of his people; which time he either purposely spent in fasting and prayer on that account, or until now his turn did not come about to exercise his office, in waiting upon the king as his cupbearer: but now it was that wine was before him ; the king; it was brought and set in a proper place, from whence it might be taken for his use: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king ; according to Xenophon f13 , the cupbearer with the Persians and Medes used to take the wine out of the vessels into the cup, and pour some of it into their left hand, and sup it up, that, if there was any poison in it, the king might not be harmed, and then he delivered it to him upon three fingers f14 : now I had not been before time sad in his presence ; but always pleasant and cheerful, so that the sadness of his countenance was the more taken notice of.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Our 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 of grace are never out of season. But the sense of God' displeasure and the afflictions of his people, are causes of sorrow to the children of God, under which no earthly delights can comfort. The king encouraged Nehemiah to tell his mind. This gave him boldness to speak; much more may the invitation Christ has given us to pray, an the promise that we shall speed, encourage us to come boldly to the throne of grace. Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven, as infinitel above even this mighty monarch. He lifted up his heart to that God wh understands the language of the heart. Nor should we ever engage in an pursuit in which it would be wrong for us thus to seek and expect the Divine direction, assistance, and blessing. There was an immediat answer to his prayer; for the seed of Jacob never sought the God of Jacob in vain.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 בחדשׁ2320 ניסן5212 שׁנת8141 עשׂרים6242 לארתחשׁסתא783 המלך4428 יין3196 לפניו6440 ואשׂא5375 את853 היין3196 ואתנה5414 למלך4428 ולא3808 הייתי1961 רע7451 לפניו׃6440
