The Wall completed (Nehemiah 6:15): Opposition from without (Nehemiah
6:1-9), and Intrigues within (Nehemiah 6:10-19)
1 9. (_a_) 1 4. Sanballat and his friends try to inveigle Nehemiah
away from Jerusalem;
(_b_) 5 9. And failing this to play upon his fears by representing him
as engaged in heading... [ Continue Reading ]
_when S.… and the rest of our enemies, heard_ R.V. WHEN IT WAS
REPORTED TO S.…, AND UNTO THE REST OF OUR ENEMIES. The R.V. is more
literal; the passive verb -to be reported" occurs in Nehemiah 6:6-7,
and possibly in chap. Nehemiah 13:27. For the spread of previous
rumours, cf. Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemia... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanballat and Geshem_ It is noticeable that Tobiah's name is not also
mentioned. Some commentators have held that this omission is to be
accounted for by the fact of Tobiah being -the mere servant of
Sanballat" (see Nehemiah 2:10). But the explanation seems very
improbable when we consider the prom... [ Continue Reading ]
_cease_ -The great work" of rebuilding the walls was one for which
Nehemiah was responsible; and it was no doubt literally true that if
he quitted the city there would at once be a cessation in the
prosecution of the work. The LXX. misunderstood the last clause, ὡς
ἂν τελειώσω αὐτὸ καταβήσομαι πρὸς... [ Continue Reading ]
_yet_ R.V. AND. The A.V. suggests the thought which the copula does
not express, that in spite of such a rebuff Sanballat and his
companions were not daunted.
_after this sort … after the same manner_ The Hebrew phrase is the
same in both cases. As it occurs again in the next verse (Nehemiah
6:5, -... [ Continue Reading ]
_his servant_ Cf. Nehemiah 4:22.
_an open letter in his hand_ -Open," not sealed. The object of this is
obvious. It was intended that the contents of the letter should become
public property. The servant himself and the adherents of Sanballat
within the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:17) would posse... [ Continue Reading ]
_among the heathen_ R.V. AMONG THE NATIONS, i.e. among the nations who
surrounded the Jews, and were at this time combined against the Jews
under Sanballat's leadership.
_and Gashmu saith_it] i.e. it is no mere vague rumour. It is asserted
by individuals of position and influence. -Gashmu" is gener... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee_ There were
doubtless prophets in Jerusalem who supported Nehemiah as well as
prophets who opposed him (Nehemiah 6:10-14). Sanballat suggests
firstly that Nehemiah had bribed prophets to support him, and secondly
that their support was of a treaso... [ Continue Reading ]
_There are no such things_done] Literally, -it has not happened or it
has not been done according to these words." Nehemiah contents himself
with curtly retorting that there is no sort of foundation for
Sanballat's words. The letters of Artaxerxes to -the governor beyond
the river" (Nehemiah 2:9) we... [ Continue Reading ]
_For they all made us afraid_ R.V. FOR THEY ALL WOULD HAVE MADE US
AFRAID. The participle in the original does not convey more than that
the attempt was made. It does not assert, as the A.V. rendering, that
the attempt succeeded. By -they all" Nehemiah refers to the enemies
mentioned in Nehemiah 6:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Dangers from within: False Prophets (Nehemiah 6:10-14)
10. _Afterward I came_ R.V. AND I WENT. There is no note of time
expressed.
_Shemaiah the son of Delaiah_ Not otherwise known; apparently a priest
and a prophet. The name Delaiah occurs in 1 Chronicles 24:18 as that
of the three-and-twentieth... [ Continue Reading ]
_And lo, I perceived that_ R.V. AND I DISCERNED, AND, LO. The R.V.
gives the verb the requisite sense of -recognition" as in Genesis
27:23, -he discerned him not." Not as some commentators -I
considered." Of a sudden, as it were, Nehemiah distinguishes the man's
object. The interjection -and, lo," f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore_ R.V. FOR THIS CAUSE.
_and sin_ i.e. by transgressing -the law," by violating the sanctity
of the House of God.
matter _for an evil report_ Literally, -and that it might be to them
for an evil name." The Vulgate gives the sense generally -et haberent
malum quod exprobrarent mihi." The L... [ Continue Reading ]
_My God, think thou upon_ R.V. REMEMBER, O MY GOD. Tobiah's name
stands before Sanballat's. Cf. Nehemiah 6:12.
_and on the prophetess_ R.V. AND ALSO THE PROPHETESS. Noadiah's name
only occurs here. We know from the case of Huldah and Anna that women
were sometimes privileged to possess the gift of p... [ Continue Reading ]
The Completion of the Wall (Nehemiah 6:15); and the impression
produced (Nehemiah 6:16): treasonable correspondence (Nehemiah
6:17-19)
15. _Elul_ This month, which is the same as the Assyrian U-lu-lu,
corresponds to the end of August and beginning of September. It is
mentioned in 1Ma 14:27. The 25t... [ Continue Reading ]
_all our enemies_ Cf. Nehemiah 4:1; Nehemiah 5:9; Nehemiah 6:1.
_that when … and all the heathen … saw_these things, _they_, &c.
R.V. WHEN … THAT ALL THE HEATHEN … FEARED, AND, &c. Marg.
-According to another reading, _saw_". There is little distinction to
be drawn between -the enemies" and -the hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_in those days_ i.e. during the whole of this period a treasonable
correspondence was carried on between Tobiah and the disaffected
Jewish nobles. That these included the family of the High-priest is
rendered probable by Chap. Nehemiah 13:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
_sworn unto him, because he_was _the son in law of_, &c. -Sworn unto
him." LXX. ἔνορκοι … αὐτῷ. It is implied that Tobiah's
connexion by marriage ensured him the support of many leading Jews;
the conjunction -because" suggests that the members of a family on
welcoming a stranger within their circle,... [ Continue Reading ]
_reported … uttered_ R.V. SPOKE OF … REPORTED. The Hebrew gives
the idea of continuous action. They endeavoured to convince Nehemiah
that Tobiah's professions of goodwill were sincere. Perhaps too they
spoke of the generous way in which he distributed money among the
Jews. On the other hand they com... [ Continue Reading ]