As trusted cupbearer to the king, there was of necessity a relation of friendship and familiarity between these two men. Nehemiah had to be able to read the king so as to make a responsible decision about which wine and how much wine to set before him. It should be no surprise that the king had also become familiar with his cupbearer so as to be able to read him. From the look on Nehemiah’s face, Artaxerxes concluded that something was clearly bothering his trusted cupbearer. Perhaps after some four months of continued fasting and praying
(Nehemiah 1:4) it is no surprise that Nehemiah would wear his concern for Jerusalem on his face.
2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.