The question filled Nehemiah with apprehension. Would not the king be angry to hear that while outwardly engaged in his service, the courtier's thoughts had been far away with his afflicted people? Would not the offender's life be forfeited? His cherished plan for restoring the strength of 631 Jerusalem--was it about to be overthrown? "Then," he writes, "I was very sore afraid." With trembling lips and tearful eyes he revealed the cause of his sorrow. "Let the king live forever," he answered. "Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?"

Dette spørgsmål gjorde Nehemias bange. Ville kongen ikke blive vred, når han hørte, at hans kammertjener gik og tænkte på sit nødstedte folk, mens han var ansat i kongens tjeneste? Det kunne måske komme til at koste ham livet. Hvordan ville det nu gå med hans brændende ønske om at komme Jerusalem til hjælp? Han skriver selv: "Da blev jeg såre bange." Med skælvende læber og tårer i øjnene fortalte han, hvorfor han var bedrøvet. "Kongen leve evindelig!" sagde han. "Hvor kan jeg andet end se modfalden ud, når den by, hvor mine fædres grave er, ligger øde, og dens porte er fortæret af ilden?"