Nehemiah 13:6
in Nehemiah 13While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,
KJV
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
⋯
This verse in Nehemiah 13
Commentary
7 notes on this verseWas not I at Jerusalem - Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second year, twelve years: then returned to Babylon, and staid one year; got leave to revisit his brethren; and found matters as stated in this chapter.
This site's exposition
I was not in Jerusalem
on Nehemiah 13:6-7
"I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign" (13:6). The gap gave Eliashib room to act. Clarke reckons the absence at about a year after a twelve-year governorship.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
If he had been there, the high priest durst not have done such a thing. The envious one, who sows tares in God's field, knows how to take an opportunity to do it when the servants sleep or are absent, Matt. xiii. The golden calf was made when Moses was in the mount.
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem,....
But, after some time, he obtained leave to come back again to Jerusalem, to redress grievances, and purge out some corruptions which had crept in in his absence; and very active he was in reforming several abuses, which here we have an account of.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
How long [Nehemiah] remained there is not expressly said, but "after certain days," which is a Scripture phraseology for a year or a number of years, he obtained leave to resume the government of Jerusalem; to his deep mortification and regret, he found matters in the neglected and disorderly state here described.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Artaxerxes king of Babylon - See Neh 1:1. Compare Ezr 6:22, where Darius Hystaspis is called “king of Assyria.” After certain days - Or, “at the end of a year,” which is a meaning that the phrase often has Exo 13:10; Lev 25:29-30; Num 9:22. Nehemiah probably went to the court at Babylon in 433 B.C., and returned to Jerusalem 432 B.C.
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּבְכָל־ | uvekhol- | and in all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| זֶ֕ה | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הָיִ֖יתִי | hayiti | I was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | birushalim | in Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| כִּ֡י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בִּשְׁנַת֩ | bishnat | in year | H8141 → | 877 times |
| שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים | sheloshim | thirty | H7970 → | 172 times |
| וּשְׁתַּ֜יִם | ushetayim | and two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא | leartachshast' | of Artaxerxes | H783 → | 15 times |
| מֶֽלֶךְ־ | melekh- | [the] king of | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| בָּבֶל֙ | bavel | Babylon | H894 → | |
| בָּ֣אתִי | bati | I had gone | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| וּלְקֵ֥ץ | uleketz | and to [the] end of | H7093 → | |
| יָמִ֖ים | yamim | days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּי | nishalti | I requested leave of absence | H7592 → | |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
וּבְכָל־and in all
uvekhol-H3605 →5413 times
זֶ֕הthis
zehH2088 →1180 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
הָיִ֖יתִיI was
hayitiH1961 →3559 times
בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑םin Jerusalem
birushalimH3389 →643 times
כִּ֡יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
בִּשְׁנַת֩in year
bishnatH8141 →877 times
שְׁלֹשִׁ֨יםthirty
sheloshimH7970 →172 times
וּשְׁתַּ֜יִםand two
ushetayimH8147 →768 times
לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּאof Artaxerxes
leartachshast'H783 →15 times
מֶֽלֶךְ־[the] king of
melekh-H4428 →2525 times
בָּבֶל֙Babylon
bavelH894 →
בָּ֣אתִיI had gone
batiH935 →2568 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
וּלְקֵ֥ץand to [the] end of
uleketzH7093 →
יָמִ֖יםdays
yamimH3117 →2304 times
נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּיI requested leave of absence
nishaltiH7592 →
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃the king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezra 6:22For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands…
it leads to
- Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
- 2 Chronicles 30:21
The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments…
- Ezra 1:1
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout…
- 2 Chronicles 35:17
The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.
- Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- Proverbs 21:1
Through
Nehemiah 2:1Now 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…
it leads to
- Ezra 7:1
Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
- Nehemiah 1:11
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him…
- Nehemiah 1:1
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
- Ezra 7:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Nehemiah
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceBabil Governorate (archaeological site)BabylonAncient Mesopotamian city and imperial capital; site of the Israelite exile and a recurring biblical symbol of worldly power.
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.