Discovery BoxNehemiah 2:19-20 
Context2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, 1 they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 2:20 I responded to them by saying, “The God of heaven will prosper us. We his servants will start the rebuilding. 2 But you have no just or ancient right in Jerusalem.” 3
1 tn The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “will arise and build.” The idiom “arise and…” means to begin the action described by the second verb.
3 tn Heb “portion or right or remembrance.” The expression is probably a hendiatris: The first two nouns retain their full nominal function, while the third noun functions adjectivally (“right or remembrance” = “ancient right”).
