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Chapter 2

Appointment by the King. In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, since the wine was my responsibility, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Inasmuch as I had never before showed any sign of sadness in his presence,[a] the king asked me: “Why do you look so depressed? You clearly are not ill. This is the result of your sadness of heart.”

Despite the fact that I was greatly fearful, I said to the king: “May your majesty live forever! How can I possibly fail to be depressed when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:1 Sadness in his presence: it was not considered wise to appear depressed before the king—no one in mourning clothes could even be in his presence. The king’s questioning of Nehemiah about his appearance was a dangerous thing.