Nehemiah 6:16

all our enemies Cf. Nehemiah 4:1; Nehemiah 5:9; Nehemiah 6:1.

that when … and all the heathen … sawthese 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 heathen." The leaders of the hostile races heard, and then the races themselves feared. The reading -feared," which is also that of the LXX. ἐφοβήθησαν, and the Vulg. -timerent," gives a preferable sense to -saw." The distinction in the A.V. between the -seeing" of -the heathen" and the -hearing" of -the enemies" is quite meaningless, and tells against that reading. The rendering of the R.V. suggests that the news first reached Tobiah, Sanballat and Geshem, and then spread a panic among the Moabites, Samaritans, Arabians, &c.

they were much cast down in their own eyes A peculiar expression which occurs only in this passage; literally, -they fell much in their own eyes." According to the present text, two explanations have been given: (a) = -they were much vexed and disconcerted." -To fall in one's eyes" is then to be compared with the -falling" or -lowering" of the countenance. Cf. Genesis 4:5-6; 1 Samuel 17:32. (b) = -they had fallen greatly in their own estimation," i.e. they despised themselves. In their own eyes, i.e. in their own opinion, their power had received a heavy blow; they had -fallen," as it were, and the Jews were exalted.

A different text is followed in the three renderings: (a) the LXX. -And fear fell upon their eyes exceedingly," καὶ ἐπέπεσεν φόβος σφόδρα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτῶν. (b) the Vulgate -et conciderent inter semet ipsos" (bayneyhemfor b'ay-neyhem). (c) -And they caused their eyes to fall", with the same meaning as that given in Jeremiah 3:12, -I will not look in anger upon you" (marg. Heb. -cause my countenance to fall upon you").

this work was wrought of our God In the completion of the wall the special favour of the God of Israel must have been recognised. What else could explain the unexpected commission from Artaxerxes at the beginning, and the frustration of all the machinations of the enemy? Cf. Psalms 126:2, -Then said they among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them." For the phrase, cf. Psalms 118:23.