Nehemiah 4 - Introduction
IV. (1-23) The opposition of the enemies, and Nehemiah’s plans of defence.... [ Continue Reading ]
IV. (1-23) The opposition of the enemies, and Nehemiah’s plans of defence.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOCKED THE JEWS. — The mockery comes afterwards. Here, as often in Nehemiah, a general statement is made which is afterwards expanded.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS BRETHREN AND THE ARMY OF SAMARIA. — The counsellors and body-guard of Sanballat. WILL THEY FORTIFY THEMSELVES? — Rather, _will they leave them to themselves?_ The nations are referred to; but contempt is not scrupulous or precise. WILL THEY SACRIFICE? — This is the provocation of God mentioned... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, O OUR GOD. — The habit of Nehemiah is to turn everything to devotion as he goes on. This prayer is full of an angry jealousy for the honour of a jealous God. THEY HAVE PROVOKED THEE. — The tone of its holy revenge pervades the Old Testament, and has not altogether departed in the New.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE HALF. — Up to half the height the wall was now continuous.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE MADE UP. — Arose to the height before mentioned. BEGAN TO BE STOPPED. — The wall, they heard, was continuous. The tribes here enumerated were only small parties under the immediate influence of Sanballat: nothing beyond that would have been likely to occur among subjects in common of Persia.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CONSPIRED. — Not fearing the Persian authority, they resolved to attack the city; but it will be seen that they soon abandoned that project. TO HINDER IT. — Rather, _to do it hurt. _... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THEM. — Rather, _over against them:_ opposite to each point of their encampment. The setting watch was accompanied by solemn and united prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JUDAH SAID. — As hereafter, in the case of the complaints of the people (Nehemiah 5), the writer gives a summary of difficulties. The Jews, or “Judah” — a significant term — complained of their growing feebleness, especially as so many were diverted to the watches.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL NOT KNOW. — As to the adversaries, their plan was evidently to watch and surprise, instead of making the threatened attack.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM ALL PLACES. — The neighbouring Jews in their terror said by repeated messages “from all places ‘Ye shall return to us,’ “: that is, for our protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEIR FAMILIES. — In allusion to the ambushes of Nehemiah 4:11, Nehemiah set families together — besides the appointed guards — “ in the lower places,” where the wall was not raised to the due height, that is, really, “on the higher places,” or rather, _the bare places,_ whence enemies might b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I LOOKED. — It appears that the energetic appeal now described was uttered on the actual approach of an attacking party.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE RETURNED. — This verse remarkably condenses the frustration of the attempt and the cessation of the special guard.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SERVANTS. — The building was resumed with special precautions, very minutely described. “Nehemiah’s own servants” are distinguished from “all the house of Judah.” The former were divided into two parties, one of which wrought on the work still unfinished and the other held their weapons. HABERGE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WHICH BUILDED. — Divided into masons and their burden-bearers. The latter held in one hand a weapon; the former built with both hands, and had their weapons at their side.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE LABOURED. — This is a general recapitulation, with additional note of the length of the day’s work during this pressing season.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVING THAT EVERY ONE PUT THEM OFF FOR WASHING. — This rendering is very improbable, as the words are simply: “every man his weapon water.” Some interpret that “each man’s weapon was his water”: evidently too subtle a turn of thought. It is best, on the whole, to supply the ellipsis: “every man went... [ Continue Reading ]