Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 2:6

"And the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time." — Nehemiah 2:6 (ASV)

The queen also sitting by him. —Probably Damaspia, the one legitimate queen: Shegal, as in Psalm 14:13, where, however, she stands as in the presence of her Divine-human Lord. This was not a public feast, as in that case the queen would not be present (Esther 1:9–12).

I set him a time. —Whatever that was, circumstances afterwards prolonged it.