Nehemiah 2:5-20 ▼

5 and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah (praised), to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates \beyond the River/, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah (praised).

8 And may I have a letter to Asaph (gatherer), keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God {Elohay} was upon me, the king granted my requests.

9 Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10 But when Sanballat (strength) the Horonite (native of Horonaim) and Tobiah (YHWH is good) the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites (God prevails).

11 After I had arrived in Jerusalem (city of peace) and had been there three days,

12 I set out at night with a few men. I did not tell anyone what my God {Elohay} had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem (city of peace). The only animal with me was the one on which I was riding.

13 So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent (Dragon) and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem (city of peace) that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.

14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through;

15 so I went up the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I headed back and reentered through the Valley Gate.

16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers.

17 Then I said to them, “You⁺ see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem (city of peace) lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”

18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God {Elohay} upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

19 But when Sanballat (strength) the Horonite (native of Horonaim), Tobiah (YHWH is good) the Ammonite official, and Geshem (rain) the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you⁺ are doing? Are you⁺ rebelling against the king?”

20 So I answered them and said, “The God {Elohe} of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you⁺ have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem (city of peace).”