This chapter relates, how the Jews, while building, were mocked by their enemies, to which no answer was returned but by prayer to God, and they went on notwithstanding in their work, Neh. 4:1–6 and how that their enemies conspired against them, to hinder them by force of arms, Neh.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall Or were building it; for as yet it was not finished, see , he was wroth, and took great indignation; inwardly, though outwardly he pretended to treat the work with contempt, as if it never would be accomplished, which yet he…

And he spake before his brethren Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, and perhaps some other governors of the king of Persia in those parts: and before the army of Samaria: which, and the inhabitants of it, were implacable enemies of the Jews: and said, what do these feeble Jews? what do…

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him Who was one of his brethren he spake before, , and he said; in the like contemptuous and scoffing manner; even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall; signifying not only that it was so low that a fox could easily get up to it,…

Hear, O our God, for we are despised Here begins the prayer of Nehemiah, who had been informed of what these men said in contempt of him, and his builders, and to whom he sent no answer, but applied to God: and turn their reproach upon their own head; as they have despised and reproached us, let…

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee Let it not go unpunished, and even let it not be pardoned; which is spoken, not from a private spirit of revenge, but from a public spirit for the glory of God, and his justice; and not as a mere imprecation, but as…

So built we the wall Went on in building it, notwithstanding their scoffs and threats: and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof; it was carried all round the city to half the height of it: for the people had a mind to work; their heart was in it, they had a good will to it, and…

And it came to pass that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians Who were under and influenced by Geshem the Arabian: and the Ammonites; over whom Tobiah was governor: and the Ashdodites; who were of Ashdod or Azotus, one of the principalities of the Philistines, who were always enemies to the…

And conspired all of them together All the above men and people entered into a confederacy and combination: to come and to fight against Jerusalem; to bring an army with them, and by force cause the Jews to desist; the Jews [[4]] pretend they came to war, and brought with them an army of 180,000…

Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God Spread their case before him in prayer, entreating direction and help from him: and set a watch against them day and night, because of them; to give notice of their approach, that they might prepare to defend themselves; though they prayed to God, and…

And Judah said Several of the men of Judah: the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed; through much labour, in carrying heavy loads of stone and timber to the builders, and yet more through fear of the enemy: and there is much rubbish; which ought to be removed, but that the labourers were…

And our adversaries said, they shall not know Our designs upon them: neither see; or perceive what we are about to do: till we come in the midst of them; with an army suddenly, at an unawares, and unexpected: and slay them; they being unarmed, and not prepared to defend themselves: and cause the…

And it came to pass, when the Jews that dwelt by them Near Samaria, Arabia, and Ashdod, and had intelligence of their designs: came, they said to us ten times; that is, they came to them at Jerusalem, and often told them, as this phrase “ten times” signifies, (See Gill on Gen.

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall Where the wall was lowest, and the enemy could more easily break it down, or get over it: and on the higher places; where the wall was higher; or rather on the towers upon the walls, as the word signifies the tops of rocks, which are dry and…

And I looked Took a view of the people, and observed that they were in their proper place, and sufficiently armed, and also whether the enemy was coming: and rose up and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people; who were under their nobles and rulers, as their captains…

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard it was known unto us What they intended, as might be reported to them from the preparations made by the Jews to receive them, and defend themselves: and God had brought their counsel to naught; which was to come upon them secretly and unawares; but being…

And it came to pass from that time forth That they were thus alarmed of danger from their enemies: that the half of my servants wrought in the work; of building the wall; his domestic servants, his guards, or mighty men, as Jarchi, men of war, the soldiers: and the other half of them held both the…

They which builded on the wall That laid the mortar and stones upon it, and timber where it was necessary: and they that bore burdens; that carried the mortar, stones, and timber to the builders, and served them: with those that laded; which prepared the above for them, and laid them on their…

For the builders had everyone his sword girded by his side, and so builded Thus accoutred he wrought, and was prepared for either service: and he that sounded the trumpet was by me; to give the alarm of war, that everyone might lay aside his work, and prepare for the battle: this officer stood by…

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people (See Gill on Neh. 4:14), the work is great and large; the building of the wall all around the city of Jerusalem: and we are separated upon the wall one far from another; some at work on one part of it, and some at another,…

In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet Be it what part of the wall soever they were at work, even the most distant: resort ye thither to us; to Nehemiah, and the half of his servants armed, where the trumpet was blown; that was to be the place of rendezvous: our God shall fight…

So we laboured in the work Of building the wall: and half of them held the spears; and other weapons before mentioned, from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared; that is, from morning to evening, the space of time the builders and labourers worked.

Likewise at the same time said I unto the people That were at work upon the wall: let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem; every builder had a servant, or a lad, as the word signifies, to wait upon him, to bring mortar or stone, or what he wanted; and some of these builders, with their…

So neither I, nor my brethren The nobles and rulers: nor my servants; his domestic servants that waited upon him: nor the men of the guard which followed me; his bodyguard, which attended him as a commissioner of the king of Persia for state and grandeur: none of us put off our clothes; at night…