Nehemiah 2:9

“Then I came to the governors beyond the river, etc.] Who these governors were, whether the same who were in the second year of this king’s reign eighteen years ago, Tatnai and Shetharboznai, is not certain: now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me; both to do him honour, and for his safety; and coming thus attended, must serve to recommend him to the governor, who received him from them at the river Euphrates, and conducted him to Judah.”

“2:9 Because Nehemiah was a government official, he had an armed escort of officers and horsemen for his trip to Jerusalem (cp. Ezra 8:22).”

“to the governors: Neh 2:7 Now the: Ezr 8:22 Nehemiah 2:10”

“Nehemiah delivered the letter when he came to the governors on this side Euphrates. The king had also sent with him captains of the army and horsemen. The second half of Neh 2:9 contains a supplementary remark, so that ויּשׁלח must be expressed by the pluperfect. Ezra had been ashamed to request a military escort from the Persian monarch ( Ezr 8:22); but the king gave to the high dignitary called Pecha a guard of soldiers, who certainly remained with him in Jerusalem also for his protection ( Ezr 4:17). Besides these, there were in his retinue his brethren, i.e., either relations or fellow-countrymen, and servants, comp. Neh 4:10; Neh 5:10. That this retinue is not mentioned in the present…”