Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, 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;) Ver. 1. _Now it came to pass_] Lo, here another let... [ Continue Reading ]
That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [some one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. Ver. 2. _That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me_] As if solicitous of my safety, and careful of the common good. He that hateth dissemble... [ Continue Reading ]
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I [am] doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Ver. 3. _And I sent messengers unto them_] He went not, but sent. This was to be wise as a serpent, Matthew 10:16. God calleth us not t... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Ver. 4. _Yet they sent unto me four times_] As thinking to prevail by their importunity. This wicked men have learned from their master Beelzebub, the lord of flies, as the name (απομυιος) signifieth, or ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Ver. 5. Then sent Sanballat … the fifth time] So restless are wicked persons; their souls are violently tossed about, as in a sling, 1 Samuel 25:29, _Etsi non aliqua docuissent, &c._ although they... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherein [was] written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. Ver. 6. _It is reported among the heathen_] And must, therefore, needs be true, li... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, [There is] a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. Ver. 7. _And thou hast also appointed prophets, &c._] That the thing mig... [ Continue Reading ]
Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. Ver. 8. _There are no such things done as thou sayest_] Nehemiah is not too careful to clear himself. This was so transparent a lie, that a man might see through it, and was, t... [ Continue Reading ]
For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, [O God], strengthen my hands. Ver. 9. _For they all made us afraid_] This they aimed at; but could not attain unto; for faith quelleth and killeth distrustful fear, Psalms 46:1,2. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who [was] shut up; 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; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who [is there], that, [being] as I [am], would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. Ver. 11. _And I said, Should such a man as I flee?_] To the dishonour of God, and the discouraging of the people? to the scandal of the weak, and the sc... [ Continue Reading ]
And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Ver. 12. _And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him_] By my spiritual sagacity I smelt him out; as having my inward senses habitually exercised to discern go... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore [was] he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil report, that they might reproach me. Ver. 13. _Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid_] But they were much mistaken in their aims: this matter was not malleable. Nehemiah... [ Continue Reading ]
My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. Ver. 14. _My God, think upon Tobiah and Sanballat_] Heb. Remember, to be revenged on them, _q.d._ I cannot deal with them, but do... [ Continue Reading ]
So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty and two days. Ver. 15. _So the wall was finished_] Though with much ado, and maugre the malice of all foreign and internal enemies. So shall the work of grace in men's hearts: it is perfected there by opposition, a... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard [thereof], and all the heathen that [were] about us saw [these things], they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. Ver. 16. _When all our enemies heard thereof_] So famous a matter could... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came unto them. Ver. 17. _Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah_] Heb. The white ones; either, because they went in white garments, as Joseph, Mordecai, &c., or because they were illustrious a... [ Continue Reading ]
For [there were] many in Judah sworn unto him, because he [was] the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. Ver. 18. _For there were many in Judah sworn unto him_] Besides that intercourse of letters aforementioned, Tob... [ Continue Reading ]
Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. [And] Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. Ver. 19. _Also they reported his good deeds before me_] Heb. His goodness, as if he had been another Phocion, who was surnamed the Good. But this was but in their opinion only, who... [ Continue Reading ]