Nehemiah 2:1-8

1 Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before;

2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”
I was very much afraid,

3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

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

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Cross References for Nehemiah 2:1-8

Nehemiah 13:6 - But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artax... Click to read the verse Nehemiah 13:6 Click to read the verse Nehemiah 13:6

Nehemiah 1:11 - O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your ... Click to read the verse Nehemiah 1:11 Click to read the verse Nehemiah 1:11

Genesis 40:11 - Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put t... Click to read the verse Genesis 40:11 Click to read the verse Genesis 40:11

Genesis 40:21 - He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh... Click to read the verse Genesis 40:21 Click to read the verse Genesis 40:21

Esther 3:7 - In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (... Click to read the verse Esther 3:7 Click to read the verse Esther 3:7

Nehemiah 5:14 - Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor... Click to read the verse Nehemiah 5:14 Click to read the verse Nehemiah 5:14

Ezra 7:1 - Ezra Comes to Jerusalem After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra... Click to read the verse Ezra 7:1 Click to read the verse Ezra 7:1

Ezra 7:7 - Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, a... Click to read the verse Ezra 7:7 Click to read the verse Ezra 7:7

Nehemiah 1:1 - Nehemiah’s Prayer The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentiet... Click to read the verse Nehemiah 1:1 Click to read the verse Nehemiah 1:1