Nehemiah 2:20

Then answered I. It is worthy of note that Nehemiah took no notice of the serious charge now brought against him of plotting rebellion. Neither does he refer to the royal permit he held, but rather leaves his enemies to suppose that he was acting on his own authority. He certainly must have had his reasons for sending his adversaries the answer he did.

The God of heaven. Nehemiah, a deeply religious man, knew how to depend on God. Instead of pointing to a royal decree he referred to the highest authority possible as the one from whom permission had come. Compare Zerubbabel’s answer to Tatnai, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house” (Ezra 5:11).

Ye have no portion. Even as the Samaritans’ claim of the right to interfere in Jewish affairs was rejected when they came proffering their aid (Ezra 4:2, 3), so now when their meddling became hostile in character it was even more fiercely and indignantly rejected. They were told that what happened in Jerusalem was none of their business, and that they had not even so much as a place in the memory of the inhabitants. Nehemiah made it plain that he expected no interference from them, and that they should attend to the affairs of their own communities and not trouble the worshipers of the true God. Thus far Nehemiah had avoided opposition by concealing his plans, but once opposition appeared he met it boldly.