Nehemiah 2:5
And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Nehemiah doesn't just ask to rebuild Jerusalem; he specifically mentions it's the "city of my fathers' graves." This wasn't just about bricks and mortar; it was a powerful appeal to the king's respect for the dead, a tactic likely to evoke a strong emotional response and underscore the sacred importance of the undertaking.
Nehemiah, after praying and preparing, bravely approaches the king during a moment when wine is being served, a potentially dangerous time to present a request. He starts by humbly submitting his petition to the king’s pleasure and seeking his favor, knowing that the king had previously taken steps to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Nehemiah then reveals his request: to be sent back to Judah to rebuild the city, specifically mentioning the city of his ancestors' graves to appeal to the king's sentiments.
Nehemiah has a massive request: to leave his comfortable position and rebuild Jerusalem. But before he even states it, he lays the groundwork with incredible humility.
Nehemiah doesn't just blurt out his request. He crafts it carefully, using a double conditional statement: 'If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight...'
Submitting to Authority
This shows profound respect for King Artaxerxes' authority. Nehemiah isn't demanding; he's asking permission, acknowledging the king's power and his own subordinate position. The phrasing echoes common diplomatic language of the time, signaling his understanding of courtly etiquette.
Relying on Grace
The second condition, 'if your servant has found favor in your sight,' highlights Nehemiah's awareness that his success depends not on his own merits or influence, but on the king's goodwill. He's essentially saying, 'If I've earned even a little bit of your respect, may I use that favor for this important mission?' This humility is key to his strategy.
Why does Nehemiah mention 'the city of my fathers’ graves'? It seems like a somber detail, but it carried deep significance for both him and the king.
Calling Jerusalem 'the city of my fathers’ graves' was a powerful emotional and cultural appeal.
A Sacred Trust
For ancient peoples, the tombs of their ancestors were sacred sites. Disturbing the dead was considered deeply offensive. By framing his mission around rebuilding the city where his forefathers were buried, Nehemiah was invoking a sense of sacred duty and ancestral legacy.
Connecting to Identity
This phrase tied Nehemiah's personal identity and his people's history directly to the physical place. It wasn't just a city; it was the resting place of his lineage, the heart of his heritage. This emotional connection was designed to resonate with the king, perhaps appealing to any sense of duty or respect the king might have for historical continuity and sacred sites.
Understand the original words
chen · Hebrew Noun
An expression of grace, kindness, or acceptance shown by a superior to an inferior. In the Bible, finding favor is often the result of God’s providential movement to accomplish His purposes through human relationships.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
One who serves a master; in a spiritual sense, it denotes a believer who has submitted themselves to the service and will of God, recognizing His ownership and authority over their life.
Nehemiah's request to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls arises after a previous decree under the same king had *stopped* such building efforts, making his petition particularly bold and requiring immense diplomatic skill.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus's Decree for Return
King Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile.
c. 516 BC
Temple Rebuilt
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated, a significant milestone for the returning exiles.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
The scribe Ezra leads a second major group of exiles back to Jerusalem, focusing on religious and social reform.
c. 446 BC
Artaxerxes's Order to Halt Building
Based on accusations from rivals, King Artaxerxes I orders the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls to cease, creating a period of vulnerability and discouragement for the city.
c. 445 BC
Like Nehemiah, Moses appeals to God's awareness of his people's suffering and remembers their ancestral significance ('fathers') when seeking divine intervention to deliver them.
Ezra 4:12-16This passage directly relates to Nehemiah's request, as it details a previous, successful attempt by enemies to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem, highlighting the political and historical context Nehemiah navigated.
Jeremiah 29:7Nehemiah's prayer and subsequent actions embody this principle of seeking the welfare of the city where they are exiles, demonstrating faith and a commitment to rebuilding their community's life.
Romans 1:16Nehemiah's bold request, stemming from his deep concern for his people and city, reflects the 'power of God for salvation' that he clearly believed in and relied upon, even before a human king.
clarkeNehemiah 2:5: "And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it."
The city of my fathers' sepulchres - The tombs of the dead were sacred among the ancients, and nothing could appear to them more detestable than disturbing the ashes or remains of the dead. Nehemiah knew that in mentioning this circumstance he should strongly interest the feelings…
cambridgeNehemiah 2:5: "And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it."
5 . If it please the king, and if thy servant, &c.] A double conditional sentence precedes the request. On the king’s approbation of the policy and on the king’s personal favour to Nehemiah must depend the issue. The words run literally, ‘If it is good before the king and if thy se…
Nehemiah doesn't just ask to rebuild Jerusalem; he specifically mentions it's the "city of my fathers' graves." This wasn't just about bricks and mortar; it was a powerful appeal to the king's respect for the dead, a tactic likely to evoke a strong emotional response and underscore the sacred importance of the undertaking.
Nehemiah, after praying and preparing, bravely approaches the king during a moment when wine is being served, a potentially dangerous time to present a request. He starts by humbly submitting his petition to the king’s pleasure and seeking his favor, knowing that the king had previously taken steps to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Nehemiah then reveals his request: to be sent back to Judah to rebuild the city, specifically mentioning the city of his ancestors' graves to appeal to the king's sentiments.
Nehemiah, after praying and preparing, bravely approaches the king during a moment when wine is being served, a potentially dangerous time to present a request. He starts by humbly submitting his petition to the king’s pleasure and seeking his favor, knowing that the king had previously taken steps to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Nehemiah then reveals his request: to be sent back to Judah to rebuild the city, specifically mentioning the city of his ancestors' graves to appeal to the king's sentiments.
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Nehemiah wasn't just playing on emotions; he was making a calculated political move by referencing Jerusalem's past building projects.
The reference to rebuilding Jerusalem wasn't a new concept to King Artaxerxes. Historical records indicate that the city's construction had been a point of contention.
A Stopped Project
Ezra 4:7-24 suggests that earlier attempts to 'build' Jerusalem (likely its walls) had been halted by a royal decree. The king himself had ordered the work to stop until further notice.
Re-framing the Request
By asking to 'rebuild it,' Nehemiah was subtly asking the king to reverse or amend that previous decree. He wasn't proposing something entirely unheard of; he was appealing for the continuation of a work that had historical precedent, albeit one that had been controversially stopped. This strategic mention likely aimed to leverage the king's knowledge of the situation and perhaps his desire to correct a previous issue or appear magnanimous.
Nehemiah Appointed Governor
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, receives permission to travel to Judah and oversee the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, despite the previous halt order.
c. 444 BC
Wall Reconstruction Begins
Nehemiah, having assessed the ruined walls, rallies the people to begin the ambitious and dangerous task of rebuilding Jerusalem's defenses.
"And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”" — Nehemiah doesn't just ask to rebuild Jerusalem; he specifically mentions it's the "city of my fathers' graves." This wasn't just about bricks and mortar; it was a powerful appeal to the king's respec…
