SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:3
Y dije al rey: El rey viva para siempre. ¿Cómo no estará triste mi rostro, cuando la ciudad, casa de los sepulcros de mis padres, está desierta, y sus puertas consumidas del fuego?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:3
Verse 3. Let the king live for ever] Far from wishing ill to my master, I wish him on the contrary to live and prosper for ever. AELIAN, Hist. Var. lib. i. c. 32, uses the same form of speech in reference to Artaxerxes Mnemon, one of the Persian kings, basileu artaxerxh, diÆ aiwnov basileuoiv, "O King Artaxerxes, may you reign for ever," when speaking of the custom of presenting them annually with an offering of earth and water; as if they had said, May you reign for ever over these!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And I said unto the king, let the king live for ever , etc.] Which some think he said to take off the king’s suspicion of his having a design upon his life, though it seems to be a common salutation of the kings in those times, (see Daniel 6:6,21), why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire ? a man’s native place, and where his ancestors lie interred, being always reckoned near and dear, the king and his nobles could not object to his being concerned for the desolations thereof.
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
ואמר 559 למלך 4428 המלך 4428 לעולם 5769 יחיה 2421 מדוע 4069 לא 3808 ירעו 7489 פני 6440 אשׁר 834 העיר 5892 בית 1004 קברות 6913 אבתי 1 חרבה 2717 ושׁעריה 8179 אכלו 398 באשׁ׃ 784
