Nehemiah 4

[chap. V I even set the people after their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.* Willi such weapons as they were furnished withal..

Nehemiah 4:1

JljXJT it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. Though he boiled inwardly with anger, yet he seemed to contemn that which he feared, and scoffed at the Jews.

Nehemiah 4:2

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria. By his brethren are meant the commandersin-chief in those parts; who mustered, I suppose, all their forces in Samaria, as if they intended to invade the Jews, and hinder the work they were about. And said, What do these feeble Jeivs?] But first he exposes them to scorn, as a people that had no power. Will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day?] He heard there were so many hands at work, as if they meant to build the wall, and keep a feast, and dedicate it by sacrifice, all in one day; and so takes an occasion to laugh at their foolish diligence, and the haste they made, as if they could begin and end at once. Will they revive the stones out of tjie heaps of the rub- Hish which are burnt?] He represents it as impossible they should repair the wall, unless they could make the broken pieces, which were also mouldered, to become whole stones again.

Nehemiah 4:3

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him. One of his brethren, mentioned in the verse beforegoing. And he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.] Foxes abounded in that country, especially about Jerusalem, since its devastation, (Lament, v. 18.) At the wall of which Tobiah jeered, saying, It was so low that those creatures might leap over it; and so weak, that they might throw it down, or break through it. This opinion, it is likely^ made them neglect to interrupt them in their building till it was too late.

Nehemiah 4:4

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head. He beseeches God to take such notice of their scoffs, that, as they now despised his people, so they themselves might be laughed to scorn, and had in derision. And give them for a prey in the land of captivity.] And carry them far away from the captives into some other land.

Nehemiah 4:5

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee. This seems something harsh, that he should pray they mightnevcr be forgiven; but he spake by the spirit of prophecy, as David did in Psal. cix. they being of such a malicious and implacable spirit against God and his people, that he foresaw they would never be capable of his mercy, but be utterly destroyed by him. And, indeed, there were several oracles upon which this prayer was grounded, and it was confirmed by the destruction of these nations by the Maccabees and their successors. For they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.] By scoffing at them, and discouraging them in the work, which was for God’s honour, and for the safety of his people. And thereforo it highly provoked him that these men should set themselves with such spite against it. Ver. G. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof] Till it was raised to the half of its height. For the people had a mind to work.] Were very much set upon it, and went about it cheerfully, notwithstanding their jeers and contempt.

Nehemiah 4:7

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and To biah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites.* Some of these people were never mentioned before; and therefore this shews, that Sanballat endeavoured to draw all the neighbouring nations into a confederacy against the Jews. Heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped.] It seems the Chaldeans liad not entirely thrown down the walls, but contented themselves to make wide breaches and gaps in them. » < Then they were very wroth.] So incensed, that it moved them to take the following resolution.

Nehemiah 4:8

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. The last words in the Hebrew are, to make an error in it; that is, to put them by the work, or to make them not know which way to turn themselves.

Nehemiah 4:9

Nevertheless we made our prayer urtto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. They committed themselves to the protection of the Almighty, whose servants they were, keeping a constant watch, that they might not be surprised, for they knew them,to be very vigilant to do mischief.

Nehemiah 4:10

And Jndah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed. They had wrought so long and so hard, that some of the Jews told him the labourers were quite spent. And there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.] There was still a great deal of rubbish remaining, more than they were able to remove; and thereforo they must desist, at least for the present, from building the wall.

Nehemiah 4:11

And our adversaries said, Tliey shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. They pretended also to have intelligence, that the forenamed enemies did not intend to appear with an army before Jerusalem, but to march so secretly, that they should have no notice of their approach till they saw them in the city, and put them to the sword.

Nehemiah 4:12

And it came to jiass, that when the Jetvs which dtidelt by them came, they said unto us ten times. But there were some Jews who were neighbours to that people that found out their designs, and came to inform them of it a great many times: for ten times signify a great many in Scripture. (See Gen. xxi.7.) From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.] The words in the Hebrew are no more than these, from all places whence they return unto us (there being no words answering to those, they will be upon you); if any words be added, they should be they informed us of our danger.

Nehemiah 4:13

Tlierefon set I in the lower places behind the wall. Where the wall was not yet raised to its just height (ver. G.) And on the higherplaces.] Where it was completely finished. 4U

Nehemiah 4:14

And I looked, and rose tip. When he saw how they were disposed, he rose up and made this speech to them. And said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses.] All was at stake, therefore he exhorts them to be valiant, trusting in God, who was stronger than all their enemies.

Nehemiah 4:15

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. When they heard their plot was discovered, and they had no hope to surprise us, but we were ready to receive them, they laid aside their designs, and we went on with ours.

Nehemiah 4:16

And it came to pass, from that time forth, that, the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other Italfofthem held both the spears, the shields, and the boivs, and the habergeons.] But, lest their enemies should imagine they were secure, and had quite laid aside their arms, and so might resume their enterprise, he ordered, that while half of his own servants wrought upon the walls, another half should stand by with weapons ready to put into their hands, if there were occasion. And the rulers were behind all the house ofJitdah.] The rest, I suppose, followed this example; and the rulers stood at their backs to encourage them, and put them forward in their work.

Nehemiah 4:17

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with ojie of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. That is, they were well appointed for both, to build and to fight. For it is a figurative speech; it not being possible for them to work if both hands had not been at liberty. And the next verse saith, their swords were by their sides.

Nehemiah 4:18

For the builders, every one had his stvord girded by his side, and so builded. This expounds the foregoing words. And he that sounded the trumpet ivas by me.] To give the alarm, if need should be, and so call them unto him for orders. It appears by this, that he was continually with them while they wrought.

Nehemiah 4:19

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, one far from another. In several quarters of it, some of which were at a good distance from others.

Nehemiah 4:20

In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. For while they lay scattered, they could not oppose their enemies successfully; but being united with him, and under his direction and conduct, he bids them not doubt of God’s protection..

Nehemiah 4:21

So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears. For the use of every man, if there shpuld be occasion. From the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.] All tho day long, from break $f day till it was quite night.

Nehemiah 4:22

Likewise at the same time saidlitnto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge icithin Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard t to us, and labour in the day.** It is likely, that many of them at night went into the suburbs, or neighbouring villages,. and lodged there; but he would have them all lodge in Jerusalem, for the. greater security of the city inthc,night,,and that they might be more, ready to w r ork in the morning.

Nehemiah 4:23

So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard tuhich followed me, none of us put off our clothes. He, and his kindred, and family, and guard, gave them a noble example; for none of them put off their clpthes when they went to bed, but lay in them, that they might be more ready to fight if any assault was made on the city. Saving that every one put them off for washing.] These last words are variously expounded by interpreters, and the fewest approve of our translation. Rabbi Solomon repeats the word not; Tliey put not off their clothes, no, not for washing. The Hebrew word is water, which some here take for the water of the feet, as, the Hebrews speak, and make the sense to be, no, not when they made water. De Dieu, quite contrary, except only to make water. But it is a more simple sense, Every man had his stvord ready when he made water. So the word schicho may be rendered, as we translate it in the, margin, every man went xvith his weapon for water. But Grotius follows our translation, and takes these words for an. exception to what went before: and tho plain meaning is, they put off their.garments only for those ablutions, which the lawrcquircd, or custom had introduced.