Nehemiah 6
PATno reason to think he speaks too much of himself, and his own worthy acts; for it was no more than was necessary in such a state of things, lhat posterity might be furnished with an excellent example of extraordinary virtue; and no moTe than St. Paul was constrained to speak of himself in his Epistle to the Corinthians; of whom he would take nothing, that he might stop the mouths of false apostles, and covetous people. (See chap. xiii. 22.)
Nehemiah 6:1
±\ OW it came to pass, tvhen Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of oar enemies. Mentioned chap. iv. 7. Heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates).] Not upon all of them, though some had been setup at the charge of particular persons, (chap. iii. 3. 6. 13, &c.)
Nehemiah 6:2
That Sanballat and GesJiem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together. Either to consult about the common good of their several provinces wherein they governed (of which perhaps they pretended they were to give an account to their master), or to establish a friendship and good correspondence’ one with another, or some such purpose. In some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.] A place in the tribe of Benjamin, chap. xi. 35. 2 Chron. viii. 12. (See there.) But they thought to dome mischief] He would not trust them, suspecting they intended to kill him; of which, perhaps, he had received some private intelligence.
Nehemiah 6:3
And I sent messengers itnto them, saying. He shewed so much respect to thein, as not to return an answer by those whom they sent to him, but dispatched a messenger of his own to them. I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the ivork cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?] He did not know any business they could have with him of such great concernment, as that which he had in hand; and therefore he would not put a stop to it to confer with them. This was one reason, but not the only one for his refusal.
Nehemiah 6:4
Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort. They were restlessly bent upon his destruction, and therefore importuned him often to give them a meeting. For they thought, I suppose, if they did not take this opportunity to overthrow what he had done, before he set up the doors upon the gates, they should never be able to enter the city afterward. And I answered them after the same manner.] Hfc still persisted constantly to give no other answer; whereby they might understand he was resolved to finish the work.
Nehemiah 6:5
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me, in like manner, the fifth time. There is no mention of Tobiah in all the foregoing negotiation, and now Geshem is left out; and Sanballat alone sent him a message, pretending, it is likely, special respect and kindness unto him, in informing him what was laid to his charge. Certain it is, he was the great contriver and manager of all the mischief intended against him. With an open letter in his hand.] Before the message was delivered by word of mouth, but now by letter; yet open, that every one might see of what he was accused.
Nehemiah 6:6
Wlierein was tvritten, It is reported among the heathen. The report was spread among the nations thereabout. And Gashmu.] The same, I suppose, with Geshem, mentioned Yer. 1. Saith it.] Undertakes to prove it. That thou’ and. the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou inayest be their king, according to these words.] That he might establish his authority, and reign over them, according to the common report.
Nehemiah 6:7
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, Tliere is a king in Judah. This was cunningly suggested, that he might not think there was any prophet on his side: as indeed there was, for he had corrupted Shemaiah, as it presently follows. And now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.] How they should wipe off this suspicion, if it should be put into the king’s mind, as he told him it certainly would.
Nehemiah 6:8
Then I sent unto him, saying. In an open letter, I suppose, that every body might see it. There are no such things done as thou say est.] Nothing done to give a jealousy of a rebellion; nor any prophet that encouraged it. «: But thou feignest them out of thine own heart.] He had invented this report to defame Nehemiah, without any ground for it.
Nehemiah 6:9
For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the tvork, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Their business was to. contrive false stories, to put the Jews in fear; being confident they would be discouraged by such reports, as some were. Therefore he beseeches God to strengthen him that he might support others.
Nehemiah 6:10
Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel. Who was a prophet, (it appears from ver. 12.) whom, it is likely, Nehemiah took to be his friend, and therefore went to consult s and advise with him at his house. WJio was, shut up.] Out of fear he pretended; and by this action would have had Nehemiah to understand what he himself should do for his own security: for it was the manner of the prophets to instruct the people by actions and signs, as well as by words. But others think he shut himself up, that is, retired, as a holy man, from the affairs of the world, to spend his time in meditation and prayer in some of the chambers of the temple; whither he ad vised Nehemiah to retire, and to take sanctuary there from the great dangers to which he was exposed. And he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee.] By the temple he means the outward court 6f it, where he had a chamber; whither, as a friend in whom Nehemiah confided, he prayed him to come, that they might meet and consult together how to preserve Jerusalem, and where he might be safe himself from his enemies; who could not easily enter in there, it being a strong place, and besides privileged by its holi-