Nehemiah 2:4

4 And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 2:4

Then the king said unto me, for what dost thou make request?
&c.] The king supposed that there was a meaning in those looks and words of his, that he had a favour to ask of him, and therefore encourages him to it; or the king of himself moved this, as being desirous of doing anything for him he would propose, to make him easy:

so I prayed to the God of heaven;
secretly, in an ejaculatory way, giving him thanks for thus disposing the king's heart towards him, and entreating he might be directed what to ask, and in a proper manner, and that he might succeed.

Nehemiah 2:4 In-Context

2 And the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, and dost thou not control thyself? and now this is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much alarmed,

3 and I said to the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be said, forasmuch as the city, even the home of the sepulchres of my fathers, has been laid waste, and her gates have been devoured with fire?

4 And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

5 And I said to the king, If good to the king, and if thy servant shall have found favour in thy sight, that wouldest send him into Juda, to the city of the sepulchres of my fathers; then will I rebuild it.

6 And the king, and his concubine that sat next to him, said to me, For how long will thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? and was pleasing before the king, and he sent me away, and I appointed him a time.