page_title: Nehemiah 2
section_title: Wise as serpents (2:1–8)
hierarchical_section_title: Nehemiah 2 / Wise as serpents (2:1–8)
caption_attribution_description: العربية: 2 change me! الكتاب المقدس التوضيح من الكتاب من الفصل Беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎: Біблійная ілюстрацыя да Кнігі прарока Нээміі, разьдзел 2 Deutsch: Biblische Darstellung Buch change me! Kapitel 2 Ελληνικά: Βιβλική εικονογράφηση του βιβλίου της change me! Κεφάλαιο 2 English: Biblical illustration of Book of Nehemiah Chapter 2 Español: Ilustración bíblica de libro del change me!, capítulo 2 Français&#160;: Illustration biblique du livre de la Néhémie chapitre 2 עברית: 2 האיור המקראי של change me! פרק हिन्दी: {{{hi}}} अध्याय change me! की पुस्तक की बाइबिल चित्रण Bahasa Indonesia: Ilustrasi Alkitab dari Kitab Nehemia pasal 2 Italiano: Illustrazione biblica del libro della change me! Capitolo 2 日本語: change me!2章の本の聖書の実例 Jawa: Ilustrasi Alkitab saking Kitab Nehemia pasal 2 한국어: change me! 2 장 장부의 성경 그림 Bahasa Melayu: Ilustrasi Alkitab dari Kitab Nehemia pasal 2 Nederlands: Bijbelse illustratie van change me! hoofdstuk 2 Português: Ilustração bíblica do Livro de change me!, capítulo 2 Русский: Библейские иллюстрации Книга Неемии Глава 2 中文: 圣经change me!第2章的书籍插图
context_page_description: Nehemiah 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, or the 12th chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and book of Nehemiah as one book. Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles, but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE is the final author of these books. From the time he hears about Jerusalem during the month of Kislev, Nehemiah waited until the month of Nisan to petition Artaxerxes I of Persia to be allowed to go and help the rebuilding of Jerusalem. His petition is granted by the king, and although with less authority than Ezra over the officials of "Beyond-the-River", Nehemiah was given an official position with an escort of officers and cavalry.
context_section_description: The scene of this part is the banqueting hall of King Artaxerxes, where Nehemiah carries out his duties as a cup-bearer. H. E. Ryle suggests that Nehemiah is the king's "favourite cup-bearer". Nehemiah is sad, and the king asks why. McConville argues that the display of a long face before the king shows three significant aspects of Nehemiah: courage, godliness and wisdom, which bear dire risk of his life (cf. Esther before Ahasuerus, Esther 4:11).
caption: Nehemiah before the king Artaxerxes I. Illustration of Book of Nehemiah Chapter 2. Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett
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