Artaxerxes commissions Nehemiah
When the king noticed Nehemiah's sadness, the cupbearer prayed and asked to be sent to Judah to rebuild the city of his fathers' graves. Artaxerxes granted letters for safe passage and timber, and Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem despite the displeasure of Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 2:1-10).
1Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, 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 is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear 3and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
