No wonder, then, that he dreaded the interview, and that he felt that he needed many months of prayer to make him ready for it.
It was in the month Chisleu (December) that Hanani had arrived, it was not until Nisan (April) that he made up his mind to speak to the king.
Before leaving his room that morning, he knelt down, and put himself and his cause in the Lord's hands, Neh.i.

11.
Then, attired in his official dress, the Rab-shakeh sets forth for the state apartments of the palace.

The central building of that magnificent pile in which the king held court was very fine and imposing, as may be seen to-day from the extensive ruins of Shushan.

In the centre of it was the Great Hall of Pillars, 200 feet square.

In this hall were no less than thirty-six pillars, arranged in six rows, and all sixty feet high.
Round this grand hall were the beautiful reception rooms of the king, and these were carefully arranged, in order to ensure perpetual coolness even in the hottest weather.