King's Cup-bearer

[Neh. 1;1] The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
Although he is a layperson, he stands with the great prophets in interceding for his people and in calling then to be faithful to the Sinai covenant. He is never included among the prophets in the Hebrew Bible, but his call has a ‘prophetic character’ to it.
This extremely pious and patriotic Jew is to be carefully distinguished from two other persons of the same name. One of whom is mentioned as helping to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (3:16), and the other is noticed in the list of those who accompanied Zerubbabel in the first detachment of returning exiles (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7). Though little is known of his genealogy, it is highly probable that he was a descendant of the tribe of Judah and the royal family of David. Who Hachaliah his father was is not known; the Arabic version adds, the high priest, without any foundation; though some have thought that Nehemiah was a priest, from a passage in.
In the month Chisleu answering to the close of November and the larger part of December (the ninth month). “That you also might keep it, as the Feast of the Tabernacles, and of the fire, which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had builded the Temple and the altar.'' (2 Maccabees 1:18)
In the twentieth year was not of Nehemiah's age, for, if he went up with Zerubbabel, he must be many years older; but in the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes
Shushan the palace was the capital of ancient Susiana, east of the Tigris, a province of Persia. From the time of Cyrus it was the favorite winter residence of the Persian kings.
A city in Persia, the royal seat of the kings of it; as Ecbatana was in the summer time, this in the spring, as Cyrus made it, according to Xenophon; but others say it was their seat in winter, and this was the season now when Nehemiah was with the king there; for Chisleu was a winter month.
He would have the fairer opportunity of serving his country by his interest in the king and those about him. He is not forward to tell us what great promotion he had at court. It is not till the end of the chapter that he tells us he was the king's cup-bearer (a place of great trust, as well as of honor and profit), when he could not avoid the mentioning of it because of the following story; but at first he only said, I was in Shushan the palace.
We may hence learn to be humble and modest, and slow to speak of our own advancements. But in the providences of G-d concerning him we may observe, to our comfort;
1. That when G-d has work to do and He will never want instruments to do it.
2. That those whom G-d designs to employ in His service He will find out proper ways both to fit for it and to call to it.
3. That G-d has His remnant in all places; we read of Obadiah in the house of Ahab, saints in Caesar's household, and a devout Nehemiah in Shushan the palace.
4. That G-d can make the courts of princes sometimes nurseries and sometimes sanctuaries to the friends and patrons of the Believers's cause.
In company with Nehemiah are those leaders in the community who are sincere in their desire to turn fully to Yahweh; they are the ones who now delight to fear (to love or to be loyal to) the name of Yahweh. Observe that he terms fear and love often have approximately the same meaning in the OT Deut. 10:12.
Grant him mercy which is divine favor. The right words, the right approach must be used; untactful speech or any alienating behavior could result in the king opposing Nehemiah’s plans and prays that G-d will give him success, that is, help him to make effective use of his resources. That he will be as skillful as possible in making his presentation before the king.
G-d is with the wise person, with those who give serious thought to action, who understand that words and actions have implications. Wisdom literature often contrasts the wise and the foolish. These terms have little to do with formal education; they relate to use one’s head, understanding how life runs. The wise person is one who gives careful thought to his speech. Proverbs 22:11, 10:14, and 14:16, 18:2 observes that the one who is pure in heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend. In contrast the fool gives no thought to his speech and actions; he babbles, and throws off restraint, takes no pleasure in understanding, and finally brings ruin upon himself. The Bible emphasizes that lasting success can never be had without the help of G-d, but it is equally insistent that people are not passive receptacles who are pushed around by G-d. G-d’s servants are expected to use all the resources they have to accomplish their service for Him. So Nehemiah has given careful thought to his plans.
This plea underscores the divine-human partnership. Nehemiah prays for success as he goes to speak to this man, saying that even though the king is the very powerful ruler of Persia, he is only a mortal man, G-d is stronger and wiser; He will prevail. Often we let the Goliaths of this world get by with their pretensions of being more than what they are: human beings. Belief in the G-d of Abraham and Moses does, at least, three things for us:
1. It prevents one from being drawn into acceptance of the divine pretensions of the powerful Joseph, and Nehemiah respect the foreign rulers yet keep their identity as people of G-d.
2. It keeps alive hope for the surprises of history because G-d’s plans often overrule those made by people – even kings.
3. It renews the inner vitality so that he weak becomes strong.
In the court of the Persian king, Nehemiah observed the royal courtesies if it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight (2:5), but in reality, Nehemiah knows that this king stands under the kingship of G-d and is but flesh and blood – a creature created by G-d.
This officer, in the ancient Oriental courts, was always a person of rank and importance; and, from the confidential nature of his duties and his frequent access to the royal presence, he possessed great influence. His title of cupbearer to the king, such a person was trusted and respected official – one who had close contact with the king and his family. Nehemiah could have continued living among the elite, but he left the good life to share the sufferings of the Jewish community. He who had it made in life did not forget his own people.
We have here Nehemiah's prayer, a prayer that has reference to all the prayers which he had for some time before been putting up to G-d day and night, while he continued his sorrows for the desolations of Jerusalem, and withal to the petition he was now intending to present to the king his master for his favor to Jerusalem. We may observe in this prayer;
I. His humble and reverent address to G-d, in which he prostrates himself before Him, and gives unto Him the glory due unto His name, 1:5. It is much the same with that of Daniel, 9:4. It teaches us to draw near to G-d.
2. With a holy awe of His majesty and glory, remembering that he is the G-d of heaven, infinitely above us, and sovereign L-rd over us. And that He is the great and terrible G-d, infinitely excelling all the principalities and powers both of the upper and of the lower world, angels and kings. He is a G-d to be worshipped with fear by all His people, and whose powerful wrath all His enemies have reason to be afraid of. Even the terrors of the L-rd are improvable for the comfort and encouragement of those that trust in Him.
3. With a holy confidence in His grace and truth, for He keepeth covenant and mercy for those that love Him, not only the mercy that is promised, but even more than He promised: nothing shall be thought too much to be done for those that love Him and keep His commandments.
The cup-bear performed their duty of presenting the wine to their royal master. Having washed the cup in the king's presence and poured into their left hand a little of the wine, which they drank in his presence, if there was any poison in it, the king might not be harmed.