The Bible Study Podcast, episode 622.

Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of the book of Nehemiah with chapter 2.

Welcome to the Bible study podcast from your host Chris Christensen.

In this episode, we pick up the story of

Nehemiah. Remember last session, last episode, we found out that Nehemiah was the cup bearer to the

king, to the king of Persia, to the emperor, to Artaxerxes. Now, there were two different Artaxerxes,

which goes this a little bit of confusion, but

Chapter 2 continues like this.

In the month of Nissan, in the 20th 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, 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, but I said to

the king, may the king live forever. Why should my face not look sad when the city where my

ancestors are buried lies in ruin and its gates have been

destroyed by fire. The king said to me, what is it you want? Then I prayed to the God of heaven

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 ancestors are buried so that I can

rebuild it. 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. 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. And may I have a letter to

...