Nehemiah 4:7

In most editions of the Hebrew Bible, this is the 1st verse of the ivth Chapter.

Sanballat … Ashdodites Here we have a complete list of the foes of Jerusalem. See notes on Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 2:19. The Ammonites were the fellow-countrymen of Tobiah, the Arabians of Geshem (Nehemiah 2:19). With them are classed the dwellers by the coast (the Shephêlah) represented by the, Ashdodites or inhabitants of Ashdod (Azotus, modern Esdûd). Ashdod was one of the principal Philistine cities (1 Samuel 5). It occupied a strong position near the sea, and once seems to have commanded a seaport only 3 miles distant. The mention of Ashdod here is peculiar. It was, we may suppose, the chief town on the Philistine coast, and resented an undertaking which threatened to revive the power and importance of Jerusalem. On the intermixture of the Ashdodite or Philistine element with the Jews, see Nehemiah 13:23. -Ashdod" was said to have been captured by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6). It commanded the caravan route into Egypt. It was captured by the Assyrians in 715 (Isaiah 20:1), and by the Egyptians under Psammetichus after a long siege (Herod. II. 157).

Ashdod was captured by the Maccabees and partially destroyed (cf. 1Ma 5:68; 1Ma 10:84; 1Ma 11:4). It was restored by Gabinius. Philips the Evangelist preached there (Acts 8:40).

It has been objected that a hostile coalition of different races, Samaritan, Arabian, Ammonite, Philistine, against the Jews of Jerusalem would have been impossible in a district subject to Persian rule.

But it is a mistake to suppose that the internal administration of the Persian Empire would be sufficient to prevent petty feuds among the subject races. The satraps took little notice of the ceaseless disputes between the tributary towns and nationalities on the frontier. The suggestion is needless that -the Arabians, Ammonites, Ashdodites" are only names of the communities most largely represented in the mixed concourse which followed Sanballat.

that the walls of Jerusalem were made up R.V. that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward. R.V. marg. -Heb. healing went up upon the walls". The literal rendering is given in the R.V. marg., the metaphor is that of an open wound or cut to which a bandage is applied, bringing relief and restoration (LXX. ὄτι ἀνέβη ἡ φυὴ τοῖς τείχεσιν Ἱερ. : Vulg. quod obducta esset cicatrix muri Jer.). The same words occur in 2 Chronicles 24:13 -the work was perfected by them," (R.V. marg. healing went up upon the work), and in Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 30:17.

and that the breaches began to be stopped These words explain the metaphor of the previous clause. -Breaches," the same word that occurs in -Perez-Uzzah" and -Baal Perazim." The verb derived from the same root is used of a wall -broken down" (Nehemiah 1:3; 2 Chronicles 32:5). LXX. διασφαγαὶ ἀναφράσσεσθαι : Vulg. interrupta concludi.

to be stopped Literally -to be closed."

then they were very wroth Their anger mentioned in Nehemiah 4:1 reached a higher pitch on hearing of the successful progress of the work.