the queen. Hebrew. ha-shegal. wife. Occurs only here and in Psalms 45:9; Daniel 5:2; Daniel 5:3; Daniel 5:23. Not. Hebrew word, but borrowed from the Akkadian sha. a bride, and gal = great. Used of. foreign queen. Here it would exactly suit "the great bride" or "foreign (Jewish) queen", Esther. (See notes on the Chronological Structure of Ezra-Nehemiah, p. 618.) Esther is introduced here (parenthetically) because of her sympathy and interest, which Nehemiah so greatly needed at this juncture, as Mordecai had needed it before (Esther 4:14).
sitting. Not reclining.
by. close to.
it pleased the king. The fruit of Nehemiah's prayer (Nehemiah 2:4).