Nehemiah 2
Commentary from 1 father
And the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, and dost thou not control thyself? and now this is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much alarmed,
καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ βασιλεύς· διατί τὸ πρόσωπόν σου πονηρὸν καὶ οὐκ εἶ μετριάζων; καὶ οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο, εἰ μὴ πονηρία καρδίας. καὶ ἐφοβήθην πολὺ σφόδρα,
И҆ рече́ ми ца́рь: чесѡ̀ ра́ди лицѐ твоѐ приско́рбно є҆́сть, а҆ нѣ́си болѣ́знꙋѧй; и҆ нѣ́сть сїѐ, ра́звѣ ско́рбь се́рдца. И҆ ᲂу҆боѧ́хсѧ ѕѣлѡ̀
And the king said to me: "Why is your face sad?" etc. Just as we have clearly recognized, with Isaiah teaching, that Cyrus, the first king of the Persians, holds the figure of the Lord and Savior because he released the people of God from captivity and commanded the temple to be rebuilt; likewise, we can rightly understand his successor in the same empire, Artaxerxes, who commanded with the same devotion that the city of Jerusalem be rebuilt, as a type of the Lord. The Lord constructs for himself a city from living stones, that is, one church from all the elect, through the office of preachers. Therefore Artaxerxes is well interpreted as testing the light with silence. For the Lord is the light of life, who tests the hearts of His faithful with silence, sometimes enlightening them with the sweetness of heavenly grace, sometimes obscuring them with the hardships of the present life, so that, educated by temporal adversities, they may more fervently desire eternal goods. This year is memorable, in which it was permitted to build Jerusalem, and it is already prefigured in the mystic writings of the prophet Daniel, with the angel saying to him that seventy weeks have been shortened over his people and over his holy city. And shortly after: From the going forth of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. And shortly after: He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, and in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. These weeks, therefore, begin from the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, when he gave permission for the rebuilding of Jerusalem; at which time, as Julius Africanus writes, the years of the Persian reign were one hundred and fifteen, and the same number of years remained incomplete until Alexander the Great, when he killed Darius; but it was the one hundred and eighty-fifth year of the captivity of Jerusalem; and they reach up to the times of the Lord's passion, by which the end was put to legal sacrifices and offerings. Indeed, each of these weeks has seven years, that is, four hundred and ninety years according to the lunar course; only in such a way that each one, in a new and unusual manner, has no more than twelve lunar months. Hence, the angel carefully says that seventy weeks are not counted but shortened over his people, which are solar years 475. Concerning this entire prophecy, I have taken care to discuss it as fully as I could in the book of Times.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
and I said to the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, forasmuch as the city, even the home of the sepulchres of my fathers, has been laid waste, and her gates have been devoured with fire?
καὶ εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ· ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ζήτω· διατί οὐ μὴ γένηται πονηρὸν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου, διότι ἡ πόλις, οἶκος μνημείων πατέρων μου, ἠρημώθη καὶ αἱ πύλαι αὐτῆς κατεβρώθησαν ἐν πυρί;
и҆ реко́хъ царю̀: царю̀, во вѣ́ки живѝ: ка́кѡ не бы́ти приско́рбнꙋ лицꙋ̀ моемꙋ̀, поне́же гра́дъ, до́мъ гробѡ́въ ѻ҆тє́цъ мои́хъ ѡ҆пꙋстѣ̀, и҆ врата̀ є҆гѡ̀ сожжє́на сꙋ́ть ѻ҆гне́мъ.
And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ βασιλεύς· περὶ τίνος τοῦτο σὺ ζητεῖς; καὶ προσηυξάμην πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ
И҆ рече́ ми ца́рь: почто̀ ѡ҆ се́мъ ты̀ вопроша́еши; И҆ помоли́хсѧ гдⷭ҇ꙋ бг҃ꙋ нбⷭ҇номꙋ
And I said to the king, If [it seem] good to the king, and if thy servant shall have found favour in thy sight, [I ask] that [thou] wouldest send him into Juda, to the city of the sepulchres of my fathers; then will I rebuild it.
καὶ εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ· εἰ ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ἀγαθόν, καὶ εἰ ἀγαθυνθήσεται ὁ παῖς σου ἐνώπιόν σου ὥστε πέμψαι αὐτὸν ἐν ᾿Ιούδᾳ εἰς πόλιν μνημείων πατέρων μου, καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω αὐτήν.
и҆ реко́хъ ко царю̀: а҆́ще царю̀ ви́дитсѧ бла́го, и҆ а҆́ще ᲂу҆го́денъ бꙋ́детъ ра́бъ тво́й пред̾ тобо́ю, да по́слеши менѐ во і҆ꙋде́ю, во гра́дъ гробѡ́въ ѻ҆тє́цъ мои́хъ, и҆ возсози́ждꙋ є҆го̀.
And the king, and his concubine that sat next to him, said to me, For how long will thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? and [the proposal] was pleasing before the king, and he sent me away, and I appointed him a time.
καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἡ παλλακὴ ἡ καθημένη ἐχόμενα αὐτοῦ· ἕως πότε ἔσται ἡ πορεία σου καὶ πότε ἐπιστρέψεις; καὶ ἠγαθύνθη ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀπέστειλέ με, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῷ ὅρον,
Рече́ же мѝ ца́рь, и҆ нало́жница сѣдѧ́ше бли́з̾ є҆гѡ̀: до ко́егѡ вре́мене бꙋ́детъ пꙋ́ть тво́й, и҆ когда̀ возврати́шисѧ; И҆ ᲂу҆го́дно бы́сть пред̾ лице́мъ царе́вымъ, и҆ посла́ мѧ, и҆ положи́хъ є҆мꙋ̀ вре́мѧ.
And I said to the king, If [it seem] good to the king, let him give me letters to the governors beyond the river, so as to forward me till I come to Juda;
καὶ εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ· εἰ ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ἀγαθόν, δότω μοι ἐπιστολὰς πρὸς τοὺς ἐπάρχους πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ ὥστε παραγαγεῖν με, ἕως ἔλθω ἐπὶ ᾿Ιούδαν,
И҆ реко́хъ царю̀: а҆́ще царю̀ ви́дитсѧ бла́го, да́ждь мнѣ̀ посла́нїе ко воево́дамъ стра́нъ за рѣко́ю, да преведꙋ́тъ менѐ, до́ндеже прїидꙋ̀ во і҆ꙋде́ю,
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the garden which belongs to the king, that he may give me timber to cover the gates, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I shall enter. And the king gave to me, according as the good hand of God [was upon me].
καὶ ἐπιστολὴν ἐπὶ ᾿Ασὰφ φύλακα τοῦ παραδείσου, ὅς ἐστι τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὥστε δοῦναί μοι ξύλα στεγάσαι τὰς πύλας καὶ εἰς τὸ τεῖχος τῆς πόλεως καὶ εἰς οἶκον, ὃν εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς αὐτόν. καὶ ἔδωκέ μοι ὁ βασιλεὺς ὡς χεὶρ Θεοῦ ἡ ἀγαθή.
и҆ посла́нїе ко а҆са́фꙋ стра́жꙋ дꙋбра́вы царе́вы, да да́стъ мѝ древа̀ покры́ти врата̀ столпа̀ до́мꙋ, и҆ на стѣ́ны гра̑дныѧ, и҆ на до́мъ, во́ньже вни́дꙋ. И҆ даде́ ми ца́рь, ꙗ҆́коже рꙋка̀ бж҃їѧ бл҃га́ѧ (бѣ̀) со мно́ю.
And I came to the governors beyond the river, and I gave them the king’s letters. (Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.)
καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τοὺς ἐπάρχους πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτοῖς τὰς ἐπιστολὰς τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀπέστειλε μετ’ ἐμοῦ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀρχηγοὺς δυνάμεως καὶ ἱππεῖς.
И҆ прїидо́хъ ко воево́дамъ стра́нъ за рѣко́ю и҆ да́хъ и҆̀мъ посла́нїе царе́во: посла́ же ца́рь со мно́ю нача́льники си́лы и҆ кѡ́нницы.
And Sanaballat the Aronite heard [it], and Tobia the servant, the Ammonite, and it was grievous to them that a man was come to seek good for the children of Israel.
καὶ ἤκουσε Σαναβαλλὰτ ὁ ᾿Αρωνὶ καὶ Τωβία ὁ δοῦλος ᾿Αμμωνί, καὶ πονηρὸν αὐτοῖς ἐγένετο ὅτι ἥκει ὁ ἄνθρωπος ζητῆσαι ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ.
И҆ ᲂу҆слы́ша санавалла́тъ а҆рѡні́тинъ и҆ тѡві́а ра́бъ а҆ммѡні́тинъ, и҆ ѕло̀ и҆́ма бы́сть, ꙗ҆́кѡ прїи́де человѣ́къ взыска́ти бла́га сыновѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ.
And Sanballat the Horonite, etc., heard. And the heretics are grieved, and all the enemies of the Church are saddened whenever they see any elected persons working for the sake of the Catholic faith or for the correction of customs, by which the walls of the Church are to be renewed. Indeed, the diversity of souls and matters is to be noted, for it was said above that those who remained from captivity in Judea were in great affliction and reproach; but also Nehemiah led a long fast with weeping and prayers because the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and its gates were burned with fire. And now, on the contrary, the enemies of that same holy city are in great affliction and are grieved because its buildings are to be restored, and at the same time, the citizens understand that they are to be lifted from the insults of their enemies. From this, it is to be gathered that even in this life, the sentence of the Lord can be fulfilled; He who said: Amen, amen, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy (John 16). For as the world that rejoiced is weeping, the sorrow of the righteous will be turned into joy when the holy affairs of the Church are seen to grow, and those who had strayed by sinning are recognized to return to it by repenting.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἤμην ἐκεῖ ἡμέρας τρεῖς.
И҆ прїидо́хъ во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ и҆ бы́хъ тꙋ̀ трѝ дни̑.
"And I came to Jerusalem and was there three days," etc. He wanders through various parts of the destroyed city, carefully scrutinizing each, and considers anxiously how they ought to be repaired. Thus it is with spiritual teachers, often rising at night and by diligent investigation examining the condition of the holy Church while others are resting; so that they may vigilantly inquire how those things which are defiled or ruined by the wars of vices may be corrected and raised by castigating. But the wall of Jerusalem is laid waste, and the conduct of the faithful is soiled by earthly and low affections; the gates are consumed by fire, when even those who ought to open the way of life to others through teaching, abandoning the office of truth, become equally torpid with common inertia, and serve temporal cares.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And I rose up by night, I and a few men with me; and I told no man what God put into my heart to do with Israel; and there was no beast with me, except the beast which I rode upon.
καὶ ἀνέστην νυκτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ ἄνδρες ὀλίγοι μετ’ ἐμοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλα ἀνθρώπῳ τί ὁ Θεὸς δίδωσιν εἰς καρδίαν μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι μετὰ τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ κτῆνος οὐκ ἔστι μετ’ ἐμοῦ, εἰ μὴ τὸ κτῆνος, ᾧ ἐγὼ ἐπιβαίνω ἐπ’ αὐτῷ.
И҆ воста́хъ но́щїю а҆́зъ и҆ мꙋ́жїе не мно́зи со мно́ю, и҆ никомꙋ́же возвѣсти́хъ, что̀ бг҃ъ дае́тъ въ се́рдце моѐ сотвори́ти со і҆и҃лемъ, и҆ скота̀ не бѣ̀ со мно́ю, то́кмѡ ско́тъ, на не́мже а҆́зъ сѣдѧ́хъ.
And I went forth by the gate of the valley by night, and to the mouth of the well of fig trees, and to the dung-gate: and I mourned over the wall of Jerusalem which they were destroying, and her gates were devoured with fire.
καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἐν πύλῃ τοῦ Γωληλὰ καὶ πρὸς στόμα πηγῆς τῶν συκῶν καὶ εἰς πύλην τῆς κοπρίας καὶ ἤμην συντρίβων ἐν τῷ τείχει ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, ὃ αὐτοὶ καθαιροῦσι καὶ πύλαι αὐτῆς κατεβρώθησαν πυρί.
И҆ внидо́хъ во врата̀ ю҆до́ли но́щїю, ко ᲂу҆́стїю и҆сто́чника смоко́вничнагѡ и҆ ко вратѡ́мъ гнѡ́йнымъ, и҆ бы́хъ размышлѧ́ѧ ѡ҆ стѣнѣ̀ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мстѣй разоре́нѣй и҆ ѡ҆ врата́хъ є҆гѡ̀ поѧде́ныхъ ѻ҆гне́мъ.
And I passed on to the fountain gate, and to the king’s pool; and there was no room for the beast to pass under me.
καὶ παρῆλθον ἐπὶ πύλην τοῦ ᾿Αΐν καὶ εἰς κολυμβήθραν τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ οὐκ ἦν τόπος τῷ κτήνει παρελθεῖν ὑποκάτω μου.
И҆ прїидо́хъ ко вратѡ́мъ и҆сто́чника и҆ ко кꙋпѣ́ли царе́вѣ, и҆ не бы́сть мѣ́ста скотꙋ̀, на не́мже сѣдѧ́хъ, да про́йдетъ.
And I went up by the wall of the brook by night, and mourned over the wall, and passed through the gate of the valley, and returned.
καὶ ἤμην ἀναβαίνων ἐν τῷ τείχει χειμάρρου νυκτὸς καὶ ἤμην συντρίβων ἐν τῷ τείχει, καὶ ἤμην ἐν πύλῃ τῆς φάραγγος καὶ ἐπέστρεψα.
И҆ взыдо́хъ на стѣ́нꙋ пото́ка но́щїю, и҆ размышлѧ́хъ ѡ҆ стѣнѣ̀, и҆ бѣ́хъ во вратѣ́хъ ю҆до́ли, и҆ возврати́хсѧ.
And the sentinels knew not why I went, nor what I was doing; and until that time I told [it] not to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the captains, or to the rest [of the men] who wrought the works.
τότε οἱ φυλάσσοντες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τί ἐπορεύθην καὶ τί ἐγὼ ποιῶ, καὶ τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσι καὶ τοῖς ἐντίμοις καὶ τοῖς στρατηγοῖς καὶ τοῖς καταλοίποις τοῖς ποιοῦσι τὰ ἔργα, ἕως τότε οὐκ ἀπήγγειλα.
Стрегꙋ́щїи же не вѣ́дѧхꙋ, ка́мѡ ходи́хъ и҆ что̀ а҆́зъ творю̀, и҆ і҆ꙋде́ѡмъ и҆ свѧще́нникѡмъ, и҆ честны̑мъ и҆ воево́дамъ и҆ про́чымъ творѧ́щымъ дѣла̀ да́же до тогда̀ не сказа́хъ.
Then I said to them, Ye see this evil, in which we are, how Jerusalem is desolate, and her gates have been set on fire: come, and let us build throughout the wall of Jerusalem, and we shall be no longer a reproach.
καὶ εἶπα πρὸς αὐτούς· ὑμεῖς βλέπετε τὴν πονηρίαν ταύτην, ἐν ᾗ ἐσμεν ἐν αὐτῇ, πῶς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἔρημος καὶ αἱ πύλαι αὐτῆς ἐδόθησαν πυρί· δεῦτε καὶ διοικοδομήσωμεν τὸ τεῖχος ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ οὐκ ἐσόμεθα ἔτι ὄνειδος.
И҆ реко́хъ и҆̀мъ: вы̀ ви́дите ѡ҆ѕлобле́нїе сїѐ, въ не́мже є҆смы̀, ка́кѡ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ ѡ҆пꙋстоше́нъ, и҆ врата̀ є҆гѡ̀ прє́дана ѻ҆гню̀: прїиди́те, и҆ сози́ждемъ стѣ́ны і҆ерⷭ҇ли́ма, и҆ не бꙋ́демъ ктомꙋ̀ въ поноше́нїе.
"And I said to them: You see the distress we are in," etc. These words are plain and very apt in a spiritual sense, because holy teachers, and indeed all who are fervent with zeal for God, are in great distress as long as Jerusalem, that is, the vision of peace which the Lord has left and entrusted to us, is seen to be deserted through the wars of dissensions; and they observe the gates of virtues, which, according to Isaiah, ought to have been occupied by praise (Isa. 60), being cast down and held in contempt by the prevailing gates of hell. Hence they strive, by gathering the ministers of the word into a single endeavor, to rebuild by faith and good action those things which seemed to be destroyed.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And I told them of the hand of God which was good upon me, also about the words of the king which he spoke to me: and I said, Let us arise and build. And their hands were strengthened for the good [work].
καὶ ἀπήγγειλα αὐτοῖς τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἥ ἐστιν ἀγαθὴ ἐπ’ ἐμέ, καὶ τοὺς λόγους τοῦ βασιλέως, οὓς εἶπέ μοι, καὶ εἶπα· ἀναστῶμεν καὶ οἰκοδομήσωμεν. καὶ ἐκραταιώθησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν.
И҆ сказа́хъ и҆̀мъ рꙋ́кꙋ бж҃їю, ꙗ҆́же є҆́сть бл҃га̀ со мно́ю, и҆ словеса̀ царє́ва, ꙗ҆̀же глаго́ла мнѣ̀, и҆ реко́хъ: воста́немъ и҆ сози́ждемъ. И҆ ᲂу҆крѣпи́шасѧ рꙋ́цы и҆́хъ во благо́е.
And Sanaballat the Aronite, and Tobia the servant, the Ammonite, and Gesam the Arabian, heard [it], and they laughed us to scorn, and came to us, and said, What [is] this thing that ye are doing? are ye revolting against the king?
καὶ ἤκουσε Σαναβαλλὰτ ὁ ᾿Αρωνὶ καὶ Τωβία ὁ δοῦλος ὁ ᾿Αμμωνὶ καὶ Γησὰμ ὁ ᾿Αραβὶ καὶ ἐξεγέλασαν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἦλθον ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς καὶ εἶπαν· τί τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, ὃ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε; ᾖ ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ὑμεῖς ἀποστατεῖτε;
И҆ ᲂу҆слы́ша санавалла́тъ а҆рѡні́тинъ и҆ тѡві́а ра́бъ а҆ммѡні́тинъ и҆ гиса́мъ а҆раві́тинъ, и҆ посмѣѧ́шасѧ на́мъ, и҆ прїидо́ша къ на́мъ, и҆ ᲂу҆ничижи́ша, и҆ реко́ша: что̀ дѣ́ло сїѐ, є҆́же вы̀ творитѐ; є҆да̀ вы̀ проти́вꙋ царѧ̀ ѿмета́етесѧ;
And I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he shall prosper us, and we his servants are pure, and we will build: but ye have no part, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
καὶ ἐπέστρεψα αὐτοῖς λόγον καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς· ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, αὐτὸς εὐοδώσει ἡμῖν, καὶ ἡμεῖς δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ καθαροί, καὶ οἰκοδομήσομεν· καὶ ὑμῖν οὐκ ἔστι μερὶς καὶ δικαιοσύνη καὶ μνημόσυνον ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.
И҆ возда́хъ и҆̀мъ сло́во и҆ реко́хъ къ ни̑мъ: бг҃ъ нб҃сѐ, то́й бл҃гопоспѣши́тъ на́мъ, и҆ мы̀ рабѝ є҆гѡ̀ чи́стїи, (воста́немъ) и҆ сози́ждемъ: ва́мъ же нѣ́сть ча́сти и҆ пра́вды и҆ па́мѧти во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ.
And it came to pass in the month Nisan of the twentieth year of king Arthasastha, that the wine was before me: and I took the wine, and gave [it] to the king: and there was not another before him.
ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο ἐν μηνὶ Νισὰν ἔτους εἰκοστοῦ ᾿Αρθασασθὰ βασιλεῖ καὶ ἦν ὁ οἶνος ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν οἶνον καὶ ἔδωκα τῷ βασιλεῖ, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἕτερος ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
И҆ бы́сть въ мцⷭ҇ѣ нїса́нѣ {ма́ртѣ} лѣ́та двадесѧ́тагѡ а҆ртаѯе́рѯа царѧ̀, и҆ вїно̀ бѣ̀ предо мно́ю: и҆ взѧ́хъ вїно̀ и҆ да́хъ царю̀, и҆ не бѣ̀ и҆́нъ пред̾ ни́мъ.