Nehemiah 4

While the enemies flout and scoffe at Gods people, Nehemiah prayeth unto God, and advanceth the work, vers.1, &c. The enemies hearing of the successful progress of the work, combine together to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder the work, ere they should be aware of it, 7, &c. Item vers.11. But Nehemia being advertised hereof, setteth a strong watch against them, encourageth the people, and so frustrateth the design of the Enemies, 12. Returneth to the work, appointeth both his own servants and all the rest of the workmen, to work with the one hand, and to hold the weapon with the other, and giveth divers, military orders and commissions, 16.

1. But it came to pass when Saneballat had heard that we builded the wall, then he kindled [Hebr. To him kindled, to wit, anger; that is, his anger kindled: so v.7.]and grew very [Hebr. Much, greatly] wroth: [see above chap.2. on v.10.] and he mocked the Jews.

2. And spake in the presence [Hebr. Before the face] of his brethren, and the host of Samaria, [to incense the soldier against the Jews, and to set them on] and said; what do these impotent Jews? Shall we let them alone? [oth. shall they rear it up, or, build it out] shall they offer? Shall they finish it in a day? [or, in this day. As if he had said; do they think to make and end the same day that they have begun or concluded the matter? They will miss of their purpose] shall they revive [that is, reduce and settle in former state and condition] the stones out of the rubbish-heaps, where they are burnt.

3. And Tobia the Ammonite was by him, and said; Ableit that they build, if there should a fox go up, he would indeed break down the stone-wall. [Hebr. The wall of their stones.]

4. Hear, O our God, that we are sore despised. [Or, for we are despised. Hebr. Are a contempt, or a dispising] etc turn their reproach [which they offer to us] upon their (own) head: and give them over for a prey in the land of captivity. [Whither thou shalt send them. Nehemia wisheth or desireth this out of an holy zeal for Gods glory, and against the bitter armies of God and his people.]

5. And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thy face: [So as that thou shouldest not regard to punish it: as Jer.18.23.] for they have incensed 9thee, standing) over againt the builders. [who are a building at thy command, and by thy grace and favour. Hebr. They have incense, or, provoked to anger over against the builders. Oth. they have incensed the builders, (standing) over against (them) to wit, as enemies, that stand and provoke a man to his face, or in his sight.]

6. But we built the wall, so that all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: [Meaning the half or moiety of the height, the half height] for the heart of the people was bent to work.

7. And it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobia, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, [See 2 Chron.20.on v.1.] and the Ashdodites heard, that the repairing [Hebr. Health, healing, curing, plaistering. So 2 Chron.14.13. Compare also Jer.8.22.] on the wall of Jerusalem increased, [Hebr. Climbeth up, cometh up, or, goeth, up, as it may be said of health, that it cometh up, climbeth up, or goeth up, when it increaseth and augmenteth, and it maketh a man daily better and better: also of a plaister, that it is put upon, or laid upon, and that there cometh a scurf, or scar, or make upon the wound] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they kindled exceedingly.

8. And they all made a combination together to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to make a confusion in it. [Or, to him, namely Nehemia.]

9. But we prayed unto our God, and set a watch against them [Oth. over, or beside them, To wit, over the workmen] day and night, because of them. [To wit because of the enemies.]

10. Then said Juda; [That is, the jews the people of Juda] The strength of the bearers (of burdens) is decayed, [So that they will not be sit to sight,] and (there) is much rubbish: [That is, there remaineth yet much dirt, rubbish and earth of the broken and decayed wall to be carried away] so that we shall not be able to build at the wall. [In regard we must be in arms against the enemy. See vers.15. Oth. building on the wall, we shall not have the upper hand, being not able to do both as we ought.

11. Now our enemies had said, they shall not know it nor see, till we come in the midst of them, and slay them: [that is, will carry the matter so close, that they shall not perceive anything, till &c.] So we shall cause the work to cease.

12. And it came to pass, when the jews that dwelt by them came, that they told us wel-nigh ten times, [That is, often, frequently warned us. See Gen.31.on vers.7.] from all places (by) which ye return to us. [That is, by which they are wont to go to and fro: that is through all ways and passages, by which a man may come from thence hither, and from hence thither.]

13. Therefore I set in the lowest places behind the wall, [Hebr. From the nethermost or lowermost parts of the place, from behind, etc.] (and) on the high places; [Or, sharp-pointed places butting out, of rocks and stones, which may be so called by reason of their whiteness, or, slipperiness] and I set the people after the families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14. And I looked, and gat me up, and said unto the Nobles [Heb. white (ones) See above chap.2.vers.16.] and to the Rulers, and to the rest of the people; Be not afraid of their face: [Compare Num.14.9. Deut.1.21. and 20.3.] remember that great and terrible Lord, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15. After that it came to pass, when our enemies heard, that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought; then we returned all the wall, every one unto his work.

16. And it came to pass from that day forth, that the half of my youths [That is, servants, courtiers, officers; and so often in the sequel] wrought at the work, and the (other) half of them held both the spears, and the shields, and the bowers, and the targets: and the Rulers were behind all the house of Juda. [Every one by those of his own house or family, to encourage the people by their presence and oversight, and to advance and further the work.]

17. They which builded on the wall, and they which bare burdens, (and) they that laded, every one [Of the bearers of burdens, and laders] with hios one hand, wrought at the work, and the other held the weapon. [Understand a casting weapon, a javelin, half lance, &c. By this action or practice of theirs, they lovely represented the state and condition of the church militant on earth, who must with the one hand continually build at the work of the LORD, and with the other defend themselves against their spiritual and corporal enemies.]

18. And the builders, they had every one his sword girded on his loins, and builded; but he that blew with the trumpet, was by me.

19. And I said unto the nobles, and to the Rulers, and to the rest of the people; The work is great and large; and we are separated upon the wall, the one far from the other, [Hebr. The man from his brother.]

20. At the place where ye shall hear the sound of the trumpet, thither shall hear the sound of the trumpet, thither shall ye assemble yourselves unto us: our God shall fight for us. [Compare Exod.14.25. Deut.1.30. and 28.7.]

21. Some wrought at the work; and half of them held the spears, from the rising of the morning until the appearing of the stars. [That is, from betimes in the morning, until late in the evening.]

22. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people; Let every one with his youth over-night within [Hebr. in the midst of Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and in the day at the work.

23. Moreover, neither I, nor my brethren, nor my youths, nor the men of the guard that were behind me, [That is, which followed me] we put not off our clothes; every one (had) his weapon, [in regard of the danger,] (and) water [to quench his thirst, because it was very hot in those countries. See 1 Sam.26.11. Oth. every one, (went with) his weapon, (for) water; or every one put off (his clothes) for bathing or washing.