Berean Standard Bible

Nehemiah 2

1Nowוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961in the monthבְּחֹ֣דֶשׁbe.Cho.deshH2320of Nisanנִיסָ֗ןni.SanH5212,in the twentiethעֶשְׂרִ֛ים'es.RimH6242yearשְׁנַ֥תshe.NatH8141of Kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783,when wineיַ֣יִןYa.yinH3196was set before himלְפָנָ֑יוle.fa.NavH6440,I tookוָאֶשָּׂ֤אva.'e.Sa'H5375אֶת־'et-H853the wineהַיַּ֙יִן֙hai.Ya.yinH3196and gaveוָאֶתְּנָ֣הva.'e.te.NahH5414it to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428.I had neverוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808beenהָיִ֥יתִיha.Yi.tiH1961sadרַ֖עra'H7451in his presenceלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440,

2so the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559to me, “Whyמַדּ֣וּעַ׀ma.Du.a'H4069isyour faceפָּנֶ֣יךָpa.Nei.khaH6440sadרָעִ֗יםra.'ImH7451,though youוְאַתָּה֙ve.'a.TahH859arenotאֵֽינְךָ֣'ei.ne.KhaH369illחוֹלֶ֔הcho.LehH2470?Thisזֶ֔הZehH2088could only beאֵ֣ין כִּי־ אִ֖ם'ein ki- 'imH369 H3588 H518sadnessרֹ֣עַֽRo.a'H7455of the heartלֵ֑בLevH3820.”I was overwhelmed with fearוָאִירָ֖א הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃va.'i.Ra' har.Beh me.'OdH3372 H7235 H3966

3and repliedוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428, “May the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428live foreverלְעוֹלָ֣ם יִחְיֶ֑הle.'o.Lam yich.YehH2421 H5769!Whyמַדּ֜וּעַma.Du.a'H4069should I notלֹא־lo'-H3808be sadיֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗יye.re.'U fa.NaiH7489 H6440whenאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the cityהָעִ֜ירha.'IrH5892whereבֵּית־beit-H1004my fathersאֲבֹתַי֙'a.vo.TaiH1are buriedקִבְר֤וֹתkiv.RotH6913lies in ruinsחֲרֵבָ֔הcha.re.VahH2720,and its gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179have been destroyedאֻכְּל֥וּ'u.ke.LuH398by fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃ סva.'EshH784?”

4“Whatמַה־ זֶּ֖הmah- zehH4100 H2088is yourאַתָּ֣ה'a.TahH859requestמְבַקֵּ֑שׁme.va.KeshH1245?”repliedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַל־ha.Me.lekh 'al-H4428 H5921.So I prayedוָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔לva.'et.pa.LelH6419toאֶל־'el-H413the Godאֱלֹהֵ֖י'e.lo.HeiH430of heavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ha.sha.Ma.yimH8064

5and answeredוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428, “Ifאִם־'im-H518עַל־'al-H5921it pleasesט֔וֹבTovH2896the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518your servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650has found favorיִיטַ֥בyi.TavH3190in your sightלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440,I ask thatאֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.SherH834you send meתִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִיtish.la.Che.niH7971toאֶל־'el-H413Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063,toאֶל־'el-H413the cityעִ֛יר'irH5892where my fathersאֲבֹתַ֖י'a.vo.TaiH1are buriedקִבְר֥וֹתkiv.RotH6913,so that I may rebuild itוְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃ve.'ev.Ne.nahH1129.”

6Then the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,with the queenוְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל׀ve.ha.she.GalH7694seatedיוֹשֶׁ֣בֶתyo.She.vetH3427beside himאֶצְל֗וֹ'etz.LoH681,askedוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559me, “How longעַד־ מָתַ֛י'ad- ma.TaiH5704 H4970will your journeyמַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ma.ha.la.kha.KhaH4109takeיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961,and whenוּמָתַ֣יu.ma.TaiH4970will you returnתָּשׁ֑וּבta.ShuvH7725?”So it pleasedוַיִּיטַ֤ב לִפְנֵֽי־vai.yi.Tav lif.nei-H3190 H6440the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428to send meוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִיvai.yish.la.Che.niH7971,and I setוָֽאֶתְּנָ֥הva.'e.te.NahH5414a timeזְמָֽן׃ze.ManH2165.

7I also saidוָאוֹמַר֮va.'o.MarH559toלַמֶּלֶךְ֒la.me.leKhH4428him, “Ifאִם־'im-H518עַל־'al-H5921it pleasesט֔וֹבTovH2896the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,may lettersאִגְּרוֹת֙'i.ge.rOtH107be givenיִתְּנוּ־yi.te.nu-H5414to meforעַֽל־'al-H5921the governorsפַּחֲו֖וֹתpa.cha.VotH6346westעֵ֣בֶר'E.verH5676of the Euphratesהַנָּהָ֑רha.na.HarH5104,so thatאֲשֶׁר֙'a.SherH834they will grant me safe passageיַעֲבִיר֔וּנִיya.'a.vi.Ru.niH5674untilעַ֥ד'adH5704אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I reachאָב֖וֹא אֶל־'a.Vo' 'el-H935 H413Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063.

8And may I have a letterוְאִגֶּ֡רֶתve.'i.Ge.retH107toאֶל־'el-H413Asaphאָסָף֩'a.SafH623,keeperשֹׁמֵ֨רsho.MerH8104of the king’sאֲשֶׁ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ'a.Sher la.Me.lekhH834 H4428forestהַפַּרְדֵּ֜סha.par.DesH6508,so thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he will giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414metimberעֵצִ֡ים'e.TzimH6086to make beamsלְ֠קָרוֹתLe.ka.rotH7136forאֶת־'et-H853the gatesשַׁעֲרֵ֨יsha.'a.ReiH8179of the citadelהַבִּירָ֤הha.bi.RahH1002אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834to the templeלַבַּ֙יִת֙la.Ba.yitH1004,for the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892wallוּלְחוֹמַ֣תu.le.cho.MatH2346,and for the houseוְלַבַּ֖יִתve.la.Ba.yitH1004אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I will occupyאָב֣וֹא אֵלָ֑יו'a.Vo' 'e.LavH935 H413.”And because the graciousהַטּוֹבָ֥הha.to.VahH2896handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of my Godאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430was upon meעָלָֽי׃'a.LaiH5921,the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428grantedוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414my requests.

9Then I wentוָֽאָב֗וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935toאֶֽל־'el-H413the governorsפַּֽחֲווֹת֙pa.cha.VotH6346westעֵ֣בֶר'E.verH5676of the Euphratesהַנָּהָ֔רha.na.HarH5104and gaveוָאֶתְּנָ֣הva.'e.te.NahH5414themאֵ֖ת'etH853the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lettersאִגְּר֣וֹת'i.ge.RotH107.The kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had also sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971armyחַ֖יִלCha.yilH2428officersשָׂ֥רֵיSa.reiH8269and cavalryוּפָרָשִֽׁים׃ פu.fa.ra.ShimH6571with meעִמִּי֙'i.MiH5973.

10But when Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֣טsan.va.LatH5571the Horoniteהַחֹרֹנִ֗יha.cho.ro.NiH2772and Tobiahוְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָֽעַמֹּנִ֔יha.'a.mo.NiH5984officialהָעֶ֣בֶדha.'E.vedH5650heard about thisוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085,they were deeplyגְדֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH1419disturbedוַיֵּ֥רַע רָעָ֣הvai.Ye.ra' ra.'AhH7489 H7451thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834someoneאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120had comeבָּ֥אba'H935to seekלְבַקֵּ֥שׁle.va.KeshH1245the well-beingטוֹבָ֖הto.VahH2896of the Israelitesלִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃liv.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478.

Nehemiah Inspects the Walls

11After I had arrivedוָאָב֖וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935inאֶל־'el-H413Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389and had beenוָאֱהִי־va.'e.hi-H1961thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033threeשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃she.lo.ShahH7969daysיָמִ֥יםya.MimH3117,

12Iאֲנִי֮'a.NiH589set outוָאָק֣וּם׀va.'a.KumH6965at nightלַ֗יְלָהLay.lahH3915withעִמִּי֒'i.MiH5973a fewמְעַט֮me.'AtH4592menוַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים׀va.'a.na.ShimH582.I did notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808tellהִגַּ֣דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046anyoneלְאָדָ֔םle.'a.DamH120whatמָ֗הMahH4100my Godאֱלֹהַי֙'e.lo.HaiH430had laidנֹתֵ֣ןno.TenH5414onאֶל־'el-H413my heartלִבִּ֔יli.BiH3820to doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213for Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִָ֑םli.ru.sha.LimH3389.The onlyכִּ֚י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518animalוּבְהֵמָה֙ אֵ֣יןu.ve.he.Mah 'einH929 H369with meעִמִּ֔י'i.MiH5973was the oneהַבְּהֵמָ֔הha.be.he.MahH929on whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834Iאֲנִ֖י'a.NiH589was ridingרֹכֵ֥בro.KhevH7392.

13So I went outוָאֵצְאָ֨הva.'e.tze.'AhH3318at nightלַ֗יְלָהLay.lahH3915through the Valleyהַגַּ֜יאha.Gai'H1516Gateבְשַֽׁעַר־ve.sha.'ar-H8179towardוְאֶל־ פְּנֵי֙ve.'el- pe.NeiH413 H6440the Wellעֵ֣ין'einH5869of the Serpentהַתַּנִּ֔ין וְאֶל־ha.ta.Nin ve.'el-H8577 H413and the Dungהָאַשְׁפֹּ֑ת וָאֱהִ֨יha.'ash.Pot va.'e.HiH830 H1961Gateשַׁ֖עַרSha.'arH8179,and I inspectedשֹׂבֵ֜רso.VerH7663the wallsבְּחוֹמֹ֤תbe.cho.MotH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had been broken downהֵ֣ם׀ פְּרוּצִ֔יםhemhem/ /fe.ru.tzimfe.ru.tzimH6555and the gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179that had been destroyedאֻכְּל֥וּ'u.ke.LuH398by fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃va.'EshH784.

14Then I went onוָאֶֽעֱבֹר֙va.'e.'e.VorH5674toאֶל־'el-H413the Fountainהָעַ֔יִן וְאֶל־ha.'A.yin ve.'el-H5869 H413Gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179and the King’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Poolבְּרֵכַ֖תbe.re.KhatH1295,but there was noוְאֵין־ve.'ein-H369roomמָק֥וֹםma.KomH4725for the animalלַבְּהֵמָ֖הla.be.he.MahH929under meתַּחְתָּֽי׃tach.TaiH8478to get throughלַעֲבֹ֥רla.'a.VorH5674;

15so Iוָאֱהִ֨יva.'e.HiH1961went upעֹלֶ֤ה'o.LehH5927the valleyבַנַּ֙חַל֙va.Na.chalH5158by nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915andוָאֱהִ֥יva.'e.HiH1961inspectedשֹׂבֵ֖רso.VerH7663the wallבַּחוֹמָ֑הba.cho.MahH2346.Then I headed backוָאָשׁ֗וּבva.'a.ShuvH7725and reenteredוָאָב֛וֹא וָאָשֽׁוּב׃va.'a.Vo' va.'a.ShuvH935 H7725through the Valleyהַגַּ֖יְאha.Gay'H1516Gateבְּשַׁ֥עַרbe.Sha.'arH8179.

16The officialsוְהַסְּגָנִ֗יםve.ha.se.ga.NimH5461did notלֹ֤אlo'H3808knowיָדְעוּ֙ya.de.'UH3045whereאָ֣נָה'A.nahH575I had goneהָלַ֔כְתִּיha.Lakh.tiH1980or whatוּמָ֖הu.MahH4100Iאֲנִ֣י'a.NiH589was doingעֹשֶׂ֑ה'o.SehH6213,for I had notלֹ֥אlo'H3808yetעַד־ כֵּ֖ן'ad- kenH5704 H3651toldהִגַּֽדְתִּי׃hi.Gad.tiH5046the Jewsוְלַיְּהוּדִ֨יםve.lai.ye.hu.DimH3064or priestsוְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜יםve.la.ko.ha.NimH3548or noblesוְלַחֹרִ֣יםve.la.cho.RimH2715or officialsוְלַסְּגָנִ֗יםve.la.se.ga.NimH5461or any otherוּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙u.le.Ye.terH3499workersעֹשֵׂ֣ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה'o.Seh ha.me.la.KhahH6213 H4399.

17Then I saidוָאוֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to themאֲלֵהֶ֗ם'a.le.HemH413, “Youאַתֶּ֤ם'a.TemH859seeרֹאִים֙ro.'ImH7200the troubleהָרָעָה֙ha.ra.'AhH7451אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834we areאֲנַ֣חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587inאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834.Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389lies in ruinsחֲרֵבָ֔הcha.re.VahH2720,and its gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179have been burned downנִצְּת֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁni.tze.Tu va.'EshH3341 H784.Comeלְכ֗וּle.KhuH1980,let us rebuildוְנִבְנֶה֙ve.niv.NehH1129אֶת־'et-H853the wallחוֹמַ֣תcho.MatH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,so that we will noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808longerע֖וֹדodH5750beנִהְיֶ֥הnih.YehH1961a disgraceחֶרְפָּֽה׃cher.PahH2781.”

18I also toldוָאַגִּ֨ידva.'a.GidH5046themאֶת־'et-H853aboutאֲשֶׁר־ הִיא֙'a.Sher- hi'H834 H1931the graciousטוֹבָ֣הto.VahH2896handיַ֣דyadH3027of my Godאֱלֹהַ֗י'e.lo.HaiH430upon meעָלַ֔י'a.LaiH5921,andוְאַף־ דִּבְרֵ֥יve.'af- div.ReiH637 H1697whatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had saidאָֽמַר־'a.mar-H559to me. “Let us startנָק֣וּםna.KumH6965rebuildingוּבָנִ֔ינוּu.va.Ni.nuH1129,”they repliedוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559,and they setוַיְחַזְּק֥וּvay.cha.ze.KuH2388their handsיְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei.HemH3027to this goodלַטּוֹבָֽה׃ פla.to.VahH2896work.

19But when Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֨טsan.va.LatH5571the Horoniteהַחֹרֹנִ֜יha.cho.ro.NiH2772,Tobiahוְטֹבִיָּ֣ה׀ve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗יha.'a.mo.NiH5984officialהָעֶ֣בֶדha.'E.vedH5650,and Geshemוְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ve.Ge.shemH1654the Arabהָֽעַרְבִ֔יha.'ar.ViH6163heard about thisוַיִּשְׁמַע֩vai.yish.Ma'H8085,they mockedוַיַּלְעִ֣גוּvai.yal.'I.guH3932usand ridiculedוַיִּבְז֖וּvai.yiv.ZuH959usעָלֵ֑ינוּ'a.Lei.nuH5921,sayingוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Whatמָֽה־ הַדָּבָ֤רmah- ha.da.VarH4100 H1697is thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you areאַתֶּ֣ם'a.TemH859doingעֹשִׂ֔ים'o.SimH6213?Are youאַתֶּ֥ם'a.TemH859rebellingמֹרְדִֽים׃mo.re.DimH4775againstהַעַ֥לha.'AlH5921the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428?”

20So I answeredוָאָשִׁ֨יבva.'a.ShivH7725themאוֹתָ֜ם'o.TamH853דָּבָ֗רda.VarH1697and saidוָאוֹמַ֤רva.'o.MarH559, “The Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064is the Oneה֚וּאhu'H1931who will grant us successיַצְלִ֣יחַֽyatz.Li.achH6743.Weוַאֲנַ֥חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuH587,His servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו'a.va.DavH5650,will startנָק֣וּםna.KumH6965rebuildingוּבָנִ֑ינוּu.va.Ni.nuH1129, but youhave noאֵֽין־'ein-H369portionחֵ֧לֶקChe.lekH2506,rightוּצְדָקָ֛הu.tze.da.KahH6666,or claimוְזִכָּר֖וֹןve.zi.ka.RonH2146in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389.”

Nehemiah Inspects the Walls

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2