And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
Ver. 5. If it please the king] Silken words must be given to kings, as the mother of Darius said (η διστα, η ηκιστα); neither must they be rudely and roughly dealt with, as Joab dealt with David, 2 Samuel 19:5, who, therefore, could never well brook him afterward, but set another in his place.
And if thy servant have found favour] Pellican observeth here, that Nehemiah was a great favourite of this king's; as appeared in that having so many nobles, he chose him to this office, rather than any of them. He, therefore, pleads it as a pledge of further favour; so may we with God, as being no small favourites in the beloved one, Ephesians 1:5 .
That thou wouldest send me unto Judah] Not only give me leave to go, but also send me with a commission to be governor. This was a bold request, but modestly proposed, and easily obtained. The king is not he that can deny you anything, Jeremiah 38:5. Love is liberal, charity is no churl.