Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

1During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,a when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad,a when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.”b

I was overwhelmed with fear 3and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should IA not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire? ”a

4Then the king asked me, “What is your request? ”

So I prayed to the God of the heavensa 5and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,a a so that I may rebuild it.”b

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

7I also said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River,a so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.b 8And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress,a the city wall, and the home where I will live.”a b The king granted my requests, for the gracious hand of my God was on me.c

9I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters.a The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. 10When Sanballat the Horonitea and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.b

Preparing to Rebuild the Walls

11After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,a 12I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I tookA was the one I was riding. 13I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’sA Well and the Dung Gate,a and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.b 14I went on to the Fountain Gatea and the King’s Pool,b but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gatea and returned. 16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. 17So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned.a Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall,b so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me,a and what the king had said to me.

They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthenedA to do this good work.

19When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official,a and Geshem the Arabb heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king? ”

20I gave them this reply, “The God of the heavens is the one who will grant us success. We, his servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”a