Neh. 4 The enemies scoff, and are angry, Neh. 4:1–3. Nehemiah prayeth against them and continueth the work, Neh. 4:4–6. Understanding the wrath and design of their enemies, he setteth a watch, Neh. 4:7–12. He armeth and encourageth the labourers, Neh. 4:3–18; and giveth military precepts, Neh.

Pretending contempt in his words when he had grief in his heart.

Before his brethren; Neh. 4:3, and Geshem, Neh. 2:19, and others, whom he calls his brethren, because of their conjunction with him in office and interest. The army of Samaria; whom he designed hereby to incense against them, or at least to understand their minds herein.

He mentions the foxes, because they were very numerous in those parts, and because in the late desolations the foxes did walk in the mount and city of Zion, Lam. 5:18, wherewith he seems to upbraid them.

Turn their reproach upon their own head; let them be really as contemptible as they represent us to be. This, and the following requests, may seem harsh, but they were both just, as being directed against such malicious, inveterate, and implacable enemies to God and to his people, and necessary for…

Let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; let their wickedness be in thy sight, so as to bring down deserved judgments it. upon them, that either they may be convinced and reformed, or others may be warned by their example. God is said to cover or hide sin when he forbears to punish.

Unto the half thereof; either, 1. In length; or rather, 2. In height; for the whole circumference of the wall was distributed among the builders, who also had carried on the work, beginning at the sheep-gate, and ending there also, as appears from Neh. 3:1, Neh.

That the breaches began to be stopped, i.e. that the breaches which the Chaldeans had made and left in the walls were well-nigh stopped up.

And Judah said, i.e. the Jews now dwelling in Judah, to wit, some of them, being partly terrified by their enemies, and partly wearied with hard and continual labours. There is much rubbish; more than we are able suddenly to remove.

We will come secretly and unexpectedly upon them so as they shall neither foresee their danger, nor be able to prevent it.

Which dwelt by them, or, among them; whereby they came to the knowledge of their counsels. Ten times, i.e. very often. A certain number for an uncertain. They will be upon you, i.e.

In the lower places behind the wall; to stand by and within the walls where they were lowest, and not yet raised to their due height, and therefore most liable to the enemy’s assault.

Our enemies being frustrated in their hopes, which were wholly built upon the secrecy and suddenness of their attempt, we knowing this, returned to our business.

From that time forth, lest our enemies should repeat their enterprise. The half of my servants; of my domestic servants, and of my guards, who should have attended upon my own person. The spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons, i.e.

This is not to be taken properly, for they could never have done their work with one hand; and the next verse tells us the sword was not in their hands, but by their sides: but figuratively; this being a proverbial speech, such as is frequent amongst the Latins, as when they say of a man pretending…

To call the people together, when and where it was fit and necessary.

Working very early and very late.

Within Jerusalem; not in the suburbs, or adjoining villages, as probably many of them did, returning thence to their work in the morning.

None of us put off our clothes; neither by day, nor by night, as the manner is when we go to bed; they constantly kept themselves in a readiness for fighting.