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The Book of NEHEMIAH.

TH

INTRODUCTION.

HE history of Nehemiah is peculiarly worthy of our regard; the story itself being remarkable, and the manner of relating it particularly pious and pleasing. He was a man of eminent devotion, and of great courage and zeal: no historian is fuller of sentiments of piety and devout acknowledgments of the hand and care of God. He came up to Jerusalem thirteen years after Ezra, and succeeded him in the government. The commonwealths of Greece and Rome were now come to considerable eminence. Plato, Demosthenes, and other celebrated names in the heathen world, were now living; but the character of Nehemiah far exceeds them all.

CHAP. I.

Nehemiah, understanding by Hanani the misery of Jerusalem, mourneth and fasteth, and prayeth for them.

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HE words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah; rather, the actions and history of Nehemiah, who was a favourite officer in the Persian court. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, which answers to our November, in the twentieth year, as I was 2 in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem; what state the people and the city were in. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province [are] in great affliction and reproach; exposed to the scorn and reproach of neighbouring nations: the wall of Jerusalem also [is] broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire; they have no wall or gate for their security; 4 these still continue in ruins, though the temple is rebuilt. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

5 And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God,* that keepeth covenant and mercy for them 6 that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and

This was a common title of God after the captivity. He was great compared with idols, or with the greatest kings, and humbly to be worshipped by all the world.

night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: 7 both I and my father's house have sinned.. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses, which conduct hath brought this calamity upon us. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: he here pleads for mercy because God had fulfilled his threatening and scattered them in their captiv◄ 9 ity: But [if] ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, [yet] will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there; thus reminding God of his promise to bring them 10 back again. Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand, 11 first from Egypt, and then from Babylon. O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name= and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

1.

LET

REFLECTIONS.

ET us learn from Nehemiah's example, to cultivate a sin cere and affectionate love to our country, even when it is in the most afflicted circumstances. He was a great favourite with his master, yet was concerned for the welfare of Jerusalem; he knew it could not be in a very flourishing state, yet was concerned to know about it. It is lawful and profitable for us, like him, to inquire concerning the state of our country, especially the state of the church and religion, that it may direct us what to pray for in its behalf, and excite our endeavours to do good.

2. Times of public afflictions should fill our hearts with sorrow, and engage us to deep humiliation and solemn devotion. Though Nehemiah was easy and happy at court, yet when he heard of the distress of Jerusalem, v. 4. he wept and mourned, and fasted and prayed. It is lamentable indeed when men have no concern for the interest of religion, and can hear of the desolation of the sanctuary, and the decay of religion, without sorrow, humiliation and prayer. How unlike this good man are they who dwell at ease, delight themselves in the pleasures of sense, and drink wine in bowls, but are not grieved at the afflictions of Joseph!

Many of the Jews were advanced to considerable posts in Babylon and Persia. This was wisely designed by Providence, that they might be of service to their brethren both in Babylon and Judea. It is an instance of great modesty in Nehemiah that he never relates the se circumstances till he is in a manner forced to it in this connection. It may seem strange that so good a man had not taken the first opportunity to return to Jerusalem; but the king seems to have been very fond of him, as appears in the next chapter, and Providence designed him as an instrument of reviving and strengthening the interest of Israel.

3. Whenever we approach God's presence, let us endeavour to affect our hearts with a sense of his majesty and excellency, and remember that he is a great and terrible God, to be adored with the profoundest reverence, and not to be mocked or trifled with. Let us thus sanctify the Lord of hosts in our hearts, and worship him with reverence and godly fear. Yet remembering at the same time that he is faithful and merciful, that we may come boldly to the throne of grace, to seek mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

4. Let us observe the correspondence between the providence and the word of God, as Nehemiah here did, v. 8. in scattering and recovering the people. The scripture is a key to Providence; and Providence is often the best interpreter of scripture; they mutually illustrate each other, and show that both are from the Lord. will tend to confirm our faith in both, and excite a becoming regard to God's word and the operation of his hands; it will teach us both to plead his promises, and his former appearances for us, as Nehemiah did.

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5. Whatever acceptance God gives us with others, especially with persons of rank and influence, it should be employed for his glory. Nehemiah had no preferment to ask for himself; he wished to employ all his interest in the king for God's honour and the happiness of Israel, and knew he could use it to no better purpose. Let us likewise esteem it our greatest honour to serve the Lord; and when he gives us favour in the sight of men, let us consider it as a valuable grant, and to be employed for the glory of him who gave it us.

CHAP. II.

In the last chapter we left good Nehemiah in great distress, on account of the report that was given him ; in this we have the beginning of the honours conferred upon him, and the dawning of glory upon Israel.

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ND it came to pass in the month Nisan,* in the twenfore him and I took up the wine, and gave [it] unto the king. Now I had not been [beforetime] sad in his presence; he had 2 been used to wait on the king with a cheerful air ; Wherefore the king, observing the change, said unto me, Why [is] thy countenance sad, seeing thou [art] not sick this [is] nothing [else] but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, lest the king should suspect me of some treasonable design, or the courtiers 3 should oppose the proposal I was going to make, And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever : why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my father's sepulchres, [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with

It was in November he first heard the report, but he had no opportunity of applying to the king till March, four months after.

fire?* Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven; breathed up a sud den ejaculation to God to direct my thoughts and words, and to in5 cline the king's heart to grant my request. And I said unto the king, if it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me unto Judah, unto the 6 city of my father's sepulchres, that I may build it. And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,t) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time; a short time perhaps, after which he returned to the king, and then was 7 sent a second time to be governor. Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; finding the king so complying, and the queen's influence so great, he petitioned for a safe conduct, and necessaries for his journey; And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which [appertained] to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into; for the gates and courts of the temple, and the house for the residence of the Persian governor. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me; to this he ascribes all his 9 success. Then 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. This was more than he desired, and showed the king's regard for him, and gained Nehe10 miah respect. When Sanballat the Horonite, or Moabite, (Isa. xv. 5.) and Tobiah the servant‡ the Ammonite, heard [of it,] it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man with so 11 much authority to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days, to observe the state of things, and how the governors and priests behaved.

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And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, in whom I could confide; neither told I [any] man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither [was there 13 any] beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed 14 with fire. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to

Nehemiah addresses the king with great respect, and with the usual compliments. He says not a word of religion, or the divine warship at Jerusalem; for though the king had a veneration for the God of the Jews, yet the company about him were idolaters: he therefore prudently insists upon something common to all. Men in general have a great love for the monuments of their ancestors, and naturally regard their country and sepulchres. This inti mares that his ancestors were citizens of Jerusalem, and that he probably was one of the royal family. 1..

This was the more remarkable circumstance, as it was not common for the king and queen to be together in public; but she seconded the request, and besought the king to con sent. It seems evident to me that this was Ahasuerus, Esther's husband; if so, it was no wonder that she was ready to further this affair.

He had been a servant or slave, but was now advanced to some considerable post. Both of these were probably governors of some neighbouring provinces. F

VOL. IV.

the king's pool but [there was] no place for the beast [that 15 was] under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the 16 gate of the valley, and [so] returned. And the rulers, the gov ernors of the king of Persia, who might have obstructed the work, knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told [it] to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to 17 the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach, that we may not be exposed to the scorn and insult of the enemy, 18 nor liable to any sudden attack. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me; of his kindness, and the authority and commission he had invested me with. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for [this] good [work ;] they immediately resolved to build, and encouraged 19 one another in this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian,* heard [it,] they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, as if it was a vain and foolish attempt, and said, What [is] this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? They tax them with intending to throw off the subjection, and set up for themselves. 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, who is more powerful than your king, hath given us authority, and he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem you have no relation to our God; are not of our religion or nation; and therefore have no business to inquire about it.

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REFLECTIONS.

T may be inferred from this chapter, that courts are not ex

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princes escape the common sorrows of life; neither will the presence and honour of their sovereign prevent them from feeling it. The court of heaven is the only court where there is no sorrow of heart.

2. We are taught to inquire into the distresses and sorrows of others, though our inferiors. It was great humanity and good nature in this king to do so; and it is peculiarly our duty, as christians, to our servants and inferiors. We should not say, what is it to us, but inquire into the causes of their grief, that we may if possible remove them, or at least alleviate their sufferings by our pity; and thus bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3. It is a good thing often to think and speak of our fathers' sepulchres; not their estates, or honours only, but their tombs, where

Here another person is mentioned with the two former, who was probably the king's governor in Arabia.

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