SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:6
Entonces el rey me dijo (y la reina estaba sentada junto a él): ¿Hasta cuándo será tu viaje, y cuándo volverás? Y el asunto agradó al rey, y me envió, y yo le señalé el tiempo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 2:6
Verse 6. The queen also sitting by him] Who probably forwarded his suit. This was not Esther, as Dean Prideaux supposes, nor perhaps the same Artaxerxes who had taken her to be queen; nor does lg shegal signify queen, but rather harlot or concubine, she who was chief favourite. The Septuagint translate it pallakh, harlot; and properly too. See the introduction.
I set him a time.] How long this time was we are not told; it is by no means likely that it was long, probably no more than six months or a year; after which he either returned, or had his leave of absence lengthened; for in the same year we find he was made governor of the Jews, in which office he continued twelve years, viz., from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, chap. v. 14. He then returned to Susa; and after staying a short time, had leave to return to rectify some abuses that Tobiah the Ammonite had introduced into the temple, chap. xiii. 6, 7, and several others of which the people themselves were guilty. After having performed this service, it is likely he returned to the Persian king, and died in his office of cup-bearer; but of this latter circumstance we have no mention in the text.
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
ויאמר 559 לי המלך 4428 והשׁגל 7694 יושׁבת 3427 אצלו 681 עד 5704 מתי 4970 יהיה 1961 מהלכך 4109 ומתי 4970 תשׁוב 7725 וייטב 3190 לפני 6440 המלך 4428 וישׁלחני 7971 ואתנה 5414 לו זמן׃ 2165
