1tc The translation reads with the LXX וְיַיִן לְפָנַי (vÿyayin lÿfanay, “and wine before me”) rather than יַיִן לְפָנָיו (yayin lÿfanayv, “wine before him”) of the MT. The initial vav (ו) on original וְיַיִן probably dropped out due to haplograpy or orthographic confusion with the two yods (י) which follow. The final vav on לְפָנָיו in the MT was probably added due to dittography with the vav on the immediately following word. 2tc The translation reads לְפָנֵים (lÿfanim, “formerly”) rather than לְפָנָיו (lÿfanayv, “to his face”) of the MT. The MT seems to suggest that Nehemiah was not sad before the king, which is contrary to what follows. 3tn Or “showed him a sullen face.” See HALOT 1251 s.v. רַע, רָע 9. 4tn This expression is either to be inferred from the context, or perhaps one should read לְפָנָיו (lÿfanayv, “before him”; cf. the MT) in addition to לְפָנִים (lÿfanim, “formerly”). See preceding note on the word “previously.” 5tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 5). 6tn Heb “devoured” or “eaten” (so also in Neh 2:13). 7tn Heb “said to me.” 8tn Heb “If upon the king it is good.” So also in v. 7. 9tn Or “queen,” so most English versions (cf. HALOT 1415 s.v. שֵׁגַל); TEV “empress.” 10tn Heb “It was good before the king and he sent me.” 11tn Heb “across the river,” here and often elsewhere in the Book of Nehemiah. 12tn Or “forest.” So HALOT 963 s.v. פַּרְדֵּס 2. 13tc One medieval Hebrew MS, the Syriac Peshitta, Vulgate, and the Arabic read here the plural וּלְחוֹמוֹת (ulÿkhomot, “walls”) against the singular וּלְחוֹמַת (ulÿkhomat) in the MT. The plural holem vav (וֹ) might have dropped out due to dittography or the plural form might have been written defectively. 14tn The Hebrew text does not include the expression “these requests,” but it is implied. 15tn Heb “servant” (so KJV, ASV; NAB “slave”; NCV “officer.” This phrase also occurs in v. 19. 16map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 17tn Heb “the animal.” 18tn Or “Well of the Serpents”; or “Well of the Jackals” (cf. ASV, NIV, NLT). 19tn Or “Rubbish Gate” (so TEV); NASB “Refuse Gate”; NCV “Trash Gate”; CEV “Garbage Gate.” 20tc For the MT reading שֹׂבֵר (sover, “inspecting”) the LXX erroneously has שֹׁבֵר (shover, “breaking”). However, further destruction of Jerusalem’s walls was obviously not a part of Nehemiah’s purpose. 21tn Heb “the words of the king which he had spoken to me.” 22tn Heb “Arise! Let us rebuild!” 23tn Heb “strengthened their hands.” 24tn The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity. 25tn Heb “will arise and build.” The idiom “arise and…” means to begin the action described by the second verb. 26tn Heb “portion or right or remembrance.” The expression is probably a hendiatris: The first two nouns retain their full nominal function, while the third noun functions adjectivally (“right or remembrance” = “ancient right”).
1tc The translation reads with the LXX וְיַיִן לְפָנַי (vÿyayin lÿfanay, “and wine before me”) rather than יַיִן לְפָנָיו (yayin lÿfanayv, “wine before him”) of the MT. The initial vav (ו) on original וְיַיִן probably dropped out due to haplograpy or orthographic confusion with the two yods (י) which follow. The final vav on לְפָנָיו in the MT was probably added due to dittography with the vav on the immediately following word.
2tc The translation reads לְפָנֵים (lÿfanim, “formerly”) rather than לְפָנָיו (lÿfanayv, “to his face”) of the MT. The MT seems to suggest that Nehemiah was not sad before the king, which is contrary to what follows.
3tn Or “showed him a sullen face.” See HALOT 1251 s.v. רַע, רָע 9.
4tn This expression is either to be inferred from the context, or perhaps one should read לְפָנָיו (lÿfanayv, “before him”; cf. the MT) in addition to לְפָנִים (lÿfanim, “formerly”). See preceding note on the word “previously.”
5tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 5).
6tn Heb “devoured” or “eaten” (so also in Neh 2:13).
7tn Heb “said to me.”
8tn Heb “If upon the king it is good.” So also in v. 7.
9tn Or “queen,” so most English versions (cf. HALOT 1415 s.v. שֵׁגַל); TEV “empress.”
10tn Heb “It was good before the king and he sent me.”
11tn Heb “across the river,” here and often elsewhere in the Book of Nehemiah.
12tn Or “forest.” So HALOT 963 s.v. פַּרְדֵּס 2.
13tc One medieval Hebrew MS, the Syriac Peshitta, Vulgate, and the Arabic read here the plural וּלְחוֹמוֹת (ulÿkhomot, “walls”) against the singular וּלְחוֹמַת (ulÿkhomat) in the MT. The plural holem vav (וֹ) might have dropped out due to dittography or the plural form might have been written defectively.
14tn The Hebrew text does not include the expression “these requests,” but it is implied.
15tn Heb “servant” (so KJV, ASV; NAB “slave”; NCV “officer.” This phrase also occurs in v. 19.
16map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
17tn Heb “the animal.”
18tn Or “Well of the Serpents”; or “Well of the Jackals” (cf. ASV, NIV, NLT).
19tn Or “Rubbish Gate” (so TEV); NASB “Refuse Gate”; NCV “Trash Gate”; CEV “Garbage Gate.”
20tc For the MT reading שֹׂבֵר (sover, “inspecting”) the LXX erroneously has שֹׁבֵר (shover, “breaking”). However, further destruction of Jerusalem’s walls was obviously not a part of Nehemiah’s purpose.
21tn Heb “the words of the king which he had spoken to me.”
22tn Heb “Arise! Let us rebuild!”
23tn Heb “strengthened their hands.”
24tn The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity.
25tn Heb “will arise and build.” The idiom “arise and…” means to begin the action described by the second verb.
26tn Heb “portion or right or remembrance.” The expression is probably a hendiatris: The first two nouns retain their full nominal function, while the third noun functions adjectivally (“right or remembrance” = “ancient right”).