[
159]
Now there was one of those Jews that had been carried captive who
was cup-bearer to king Xerxes; his name was Nehemiah. As this man was walking
before Susa, the metropolis of the Persians, he heard some strangers that
were entering the city, after a long journey, speaking to one another in
the Hebrew tongue; so he went to them, and asked them whence they came.
And when their answer was, that they came from Judea, he began to inquire
of them again in what state the multitude was, and in what condition Jerusalem
was; and when they replied that they were in a bad state
1
for that their walls were thrown down to the ground, and that the neighboring
nations did a great deal of mischief to the Jews, while in the day time
they overran the country, and pillaged it, and in the night did them mischief,
insomuch that not a few were led away captive out of the country, and out
of Jerusalem itself, and that the roads were in the day time found full
of dead men. Hereupon Nehemiah shed tears, out of commiseration of the
calamities of his countrymen; and, looking up to heaven, he said, "How
long, O Lord, wilt thou overlook our nation, while it suffers so great
miseries, and while we are made the prey and spoil of all men?" And
while he staid at the gate, and lamented thus, one told him that the king
was going to sit down to supper; so he made haste, and went as he was,
without wishing himself, to minister to the king in his office of cup-bearer.
But as the king was very pleasant after supper, and more cheerful than
usual, he cast his eyes on Nehemiah, and seeing him look sad, he asked
him why he was sad. Whereupon he prayed to God to give him favor, and afford
him the power of persuading by his words, and said, "How can I, O
king, appear otherwise than thus, and not be in trouble, while I hear that
the walls of Jerusalem, the city where are the sepulchers of my fathers,
are thrown down to the ground, and that its gates are consumed by fire?
But do thou grant me the favor to go and build its wall, and to finish
the building of the temple." Accordingly, the king gave him a signal
that he freely granted him what he asked; and told him that he should carry
an epistle to the governors, that they might pay him due honor, and afford
him whatsoever assistance he wanted, and as he pleased. "Leave off
thy sorrow then," said the king, "and be cheerful in the performance
of thy office hereafter." So Nehemiah worshipped God, and gave the
king thanks for his promise, and cleared up his sad and cloudy countenance,
by the pleasure he had from the king's promises. Accordingly, the king
called for him the next day, and gave him an epistle to be carried to Adeus,
the governor of Syria, and Phoenicia, and Samaria; wherein he sent to him
to pay due honor to Nehemiah, and to supply him with what he wanted for
his building.