John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And the king said unto me, the queen also sitting by him , etc.] Which it seems was not very common for the queens of Persia to dine with the kings their husbands; though this may be observed, not so much for the singularity of it, as for the providence of God in it, that so it should be, she having a good respect for Nehemiah, and the Jewish nation, and forwarded the king in his grant to him: if this king was Darius Hystaspis, this his queen was Atossa, daughter of Cyrus f16 , who might be the more friendly to the Jews, on account of her father’s great regard unto them: for how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return ? what time would he ask to do this business in? this shows the king had a great respect for him, and was loath to part with him, at least for any great length of time: so it pleased the king to send me , when he promised to return unto him, not in twelve years, which was the time of his government in Judea, but in a lesser space, perhaps a year at most, since in less than two months the wall of Jerusalem was finished; and it may be that he then returned to the king of Persia, who sent him again under the character of a governor, finding it was for his interest to have such a man in those parts.
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 ויאמר559 לי המלך4428 והשׁגל7694 יושׁבת3427 אצלו681 עד5704 מתי4970 יהיה1961 מהלכך4109 ומתי4970 תשׁוב7725 וייטב3190 לפני6440 המלך4428 וישׁלחני7971 ואתנה5414 לו זמן׃2165
