Nehemiah 2:7

Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

Moreover I said {H559} unto the king {H4428}, If it please {H2895} the king {H4428}, let letters {H107} be given {H5414} me to the governors {H6346} beyond {H5676} the river {H5104}, that they may convey me over {H5674} till I come {H935} into Judah {H3063};

I then said to the king, "If it pleases the king, have letters given to me for the governors of the territory beyond the [Euphrates] River, so that they will let me pass through until I reach Y'hudah;

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

Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah;

Commentary

Nehemiah 2:7 highlights Nehemiah's immediate and strategic thinking after receiving permission from King Artaxerxes to return to Judah and rebuild Jerusalem. This verse details his request for official letters, crucial for safe passage and cooperation from regional authorities during his extensive journey.

Historical and Cultural Context

Serving as the trusted cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia, Nehemiah held a significant position at the royal court in Susa. His ambitious plan to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls required traversing vast territories under Persian dominion. The phrase "governors beyond the river" refers to the administrators of the Trans-Euphrates province (in Hebrew, `Eber ha-Nahar`), a key administrative region west of the Euphrates River that included Judah. These letters were not merely a formality; they were official royal decrees that commanded respect and cooperation from local governors, ensuring Nehemiah's secure passage and preventing any obstruction to his mission.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Proactive Leadership and Planning: Nehemiah demonstrates exceptional foresight. He doesn't just rejoice in the king's initial approval but immediately considers the practical logistics and potential obstacles of his journey. This proactive approach is a hallmark of effective leadership.
  • Divine Favor and Open Doors: The king's readiness to grant such detailed and demanding requests underscores God's providential hand at work. This divine favor aligns with Nehemiah's earlier fervent prayers for success, as recorded in Nehemiah 1:11.
  • Anticipation of Challenges: Nehemiah understood the political complexities and potential dangers of traveling across an empire. His request for official letters reveals a realistic assessment of the need for governmental sanction to navigate various jurisdictions and ensure safe conduct.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase `Eber ha-Nahar`, translated as "beyond the river," was a specific administrative and geographical term used in the Persian Empire to denote the satrapy (province) west of the Euphrates River. This detail emphasizes the precise political and logistical challenges Nehemiah was preparing to face, highlighting the necessity of formal authorization for his journey through this controlled region.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 2:7 offers valuable insights for believers today. It teaches us that while we must pray earnestly for God's guidance and provision, we are also called to exercise wisdom, diligence, and practical planning in pursuing God's will. Nehemiah's methodical approach—considering every necessary step, even anticipating potential obstacles—reminds us that faith does not negate the need for preparation. Rather, faith often empowers us to plan strategically, trusting that God will orchestrate the details and open the necessary doors, just as His good hand was upon Nehemiah, a theme further emphasized in Nehemiah 2:8.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezra 7:21

    And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

  • Nehemiah 2:9

    ¶ Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

  • Ezra 8:36

    And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

  • Ezra 6:6

    Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

  • Ezra 8:22

    For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God [is] upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath [is] against all them that forsake him.
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