Nehemiah 2:8

Forest. Heb. pardes, a Persian loan word. In Greek this word became paradeisos, from which the word “paradise” is derived. In Persian, the word designates a royal park rather than a forest.

Nehemiah mentions three purposes for which wood was needed: (1) “For the gates of the palace which appertained to the house.” The “house” is undoubtedly the Temple, and the “palace,” the fortress at the northwest corner of the Temple area. This fortress at once commanded and protected the Temple. The fortress seems to have been built between the time of Zerubbabel and 444 B.C., the year of Nehemiah’s return, and was apparently the forerunner of the fortress of Antonia built by Herod, according to Josephus (Antiquities xv. 11.4). It was originally called Baris, which seems to reflect the Heb. birah, “palace,” here used by Nehemiah. (2) “For the wall of the city,” especially for the gates. (3) “For the house that I shall enter into.” Nehemiah had in mind either his old family mansion, which may have been lying in ruin, or a new dwelling that he may have planned to build. He apparently assumed that the powers for which he asked involved his being appointed governor of Judea, and in such a capacity he planned to build a suitable house.

The king granted me. That such a changeable king granted all Nehemiah’s requests, without reservation, could only be explained as the result of divine influence. Nehemiah recognized this, and gave God the glory for his success (see on Ezra 8:18).