Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Nehemiah » Chapter 4 » Verse 17-23

Nehemiah 4:17-23 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

17 They which builded H1129 on the wall, H2346 and they that bare H5375 burdens, H5447 with those that laded, H6006 every one with one H259 of his hands H3027 wrought H6213 in the work, H4399 and with the other H259 hand held H2388 a weapon. H7973

18 For the builders, H1129 every one H376 had his sword H2719 girded H631 by his side, H4975 and so builded. H1129 And he that sounded H8628 the trumpet H7782 was by me. H681

19 And I said H559 unto the nobles, H2715 and to the rulers, H5461 and to the rest H3499 of the people, H5971 The work H4399 is great H7235 and large, H7342 and we are separated H6504 upon the wall, H2346 one H376 far from H7350 another. H251

20 In what place H4725 therefore ye hear H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 resort H6908 ye thither unto us: our God H430 shall fight H3898 for us.

21 So we laboured H6213 in the work: H4399 and half H2677 of them held H2388 the spears H7420 from the rising H5927 of the morning H7837 till the stars H3556 appeared. H3318

22 Likewise at the same time H6256 said H559 I unto the people, H5971 Let every one H376 with his servant H5288 lodge H3885 within H8432 Jerusalem, H3389 that in the night H3915 they may be a guard H4929 to us, and labour H4399 on the day. H3117

23 So neither I, nor my brethren, H251 nor my servants, H5288 nor the men H582 of the guard H4929 which followed H310 me, none of us H587 put off H6584 our clothes, H899 saving that every one H376 put them off H7973 for washing. H4325

Commentary on Nehemiah 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 4

Ne 4:1-6. While the Enemies Scoff, Nehemiah Prays to God, and Continues the Work.

1. when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth—The Samaritan faction showed their bitter animosity to the Jews on discovering the systematic design of refortifying Jerusalem. Their opposition was confined at first to scoffs and insults, in heaping which the governors made themselves conspicuous, and circulated all sorts of disparaging reflections that might increase the feelings of hatred and contempt for them in their own party. The weakness of the Jews in respect of wealth and numbers, the absurdity of their purpose apparently to reconstruct the walls and celebrate the feast of dedication in one day, the idea of raising the walls on their old foundations, as well as using the charred and mouldering debris of the ruins as the materials for the restored buildings, and the hope of such a parapet as they could raise being capable of serving as a fortress of defense—these all afforded fertile subjects of hostile ridicule.

3. if a fox go up—The foxes were mentioned because they were known to infest in great numbers the ruined and desolate places in the mount and city of Zion (La 5:18).

4, 5. Hear, O our God; for we are despised—The imprecations invoked here may seem harsh, cruel, and vindictive; but it must be remembered that Nehemiah and his friends regarded those Samaritan leaders as enemies to the cause of God and His people, and therefore as deserving to be visited with heavy judgments. The prayer, therefore, is to be considered as emanating from hearts in which neither hatred, revenge, nor any inferior passion, but a pious and patriotic zeal for the glory of God and the success of His cause, held the ascendant sway.

6. all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof—The whole circuit of the wall had been distributed in sections to various companies of the people, and was completed to the half of the intended height.

Ne 4:7-23. He Sets a Watch.

7-21. But … when Sanballat … heard that the walls … were made up, and … the breaches … stopped—The rapid progress of the fortifications, despite all their predictions to the contrary, goaded the Samaritans to frenzy. So they, dreading danger from the growing greatness of the Jews, formed a conspiracy to surprise them, demolish their works, and disperse or intimidate the builders. The plot being discovered, Nehemiah adopted the most energetic measures for ensuring the common safety, as well as the uninterrupted building of the walls. Hitherto the governor, for the sake of despatch, had set all his attendants and guards on the work—now half of them were withdrawn to be constantly in arms. The workmen labored with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other; and as, in so large a circuit, they were far removed from each other, Nehemiah (who was night and day on the spot, and, by his pious exhortations and example, animated the minds of his people) kept a trumpeter by his side, so that, on any intelligence of a surprise being brought to him, an alarm might be immediately sounded, and assistance rendered to the most distant detachment of their brethren. By these vigilant precautions, the counsels of the enemy were defeated, and the work was carried on apace. God, when He has important public work to do, never fails to raise up instruments for accomplishing it, and in the person of Nehemiah, who, to great natural acuteness and energy added fervent piety and heroic devotion, He provided a leader, whose high qualities fitted him for the demands of the crisis. Nehemiah's vigilance anticipated every difficulty, his prudent measures defeated every obstruction, and with astonishing rapidity this Jerusalem was made again "a city fortified."