Nehemiah 2:7-9

7And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me 1for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s 2forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of 3the citadel which is by the 4temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house to which I will go.” And the king granted them to me because 5the good hand of my God was on me.

9Then I came to 6the governors of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. Now 7the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.