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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-9

Two plots upon Nehemiah we have here an account of, how cunningly they were laid by his enemies and how happily frustrated by God's good providence and his prudence. I. A plot to trepan him into a snare. The enemies had an account of the good forwardness the work was in, that all the breaches of the wall were made up, so that they considered it as good as done, though at that time the doors of the gates were off the hinges (Neh. 6:1); they must therefore now or never, by one bold stroke, take... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 6:10-14

The Jews? enemies leave no stone unturned, no way untried, to take Nehemiah off from building the wall about Jerusalem. In order to this they had tried to fetch him into the country to them, but in vain; now they try to drive him into the temple for his own safety; let him be any where but at his work. Observing him to be a cautious man, they will endeavour to gain their point by making him cowardly. Observe, I. How basely the enemies managed this temptation. 1. That which they designed was to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:9

For they all made us afraid ,.... Or you all, as Aben Ezra interprets it; or all the Heathen nations, as Jarchi; this was the design of all those scandalous reports, to intimidate them, and with this they pleased themselves, as follows: their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done ; this they hoped would be the effect of those reports sent to them: now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands ; and let them not have what they will, and hope for; according to Aben... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:10

Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up ,.... Either in his own house, or in a chamber in the temple, as if he had given himself up to meditation, fasting, and prayer; or, as he might suggest to Nehemiah, for his safety, and so designed it as an example to him; this man might be a priest of the course of Delaiah, 1 Chronicles 24:18 or however he was a person Nehemiah had a good opinion of, and came to him on the letters sent to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:11

And I said, should such a man as I flee ?.... The king's commissioner, who had the conducting and management of the whole affair of building the wall of Jerusalem, on whom it wholly depended; for, should he absent himself, the people would depart and leave their work, and the city and wall be left defenceless, which was what was hoped for from this scheme; and who had expressed such confidence in God, and had had such success: and who is there, that, being as I am ; in such a post, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:12

And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him ,.... Because he advised to that which was against the cause of God and true religion: but that he pronounced the prophecy against me ; for by fleeing, as he advised, it would seem that he was guilty of the crimes of rebellion and treason he was charged with; and leaving the people, as they would in course break up, he himself could not be long in safety, no, not in the temple: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him ; this he found out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:13

Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so , and sin ,.... By distrusting the power and providence of God to protect him, and by going into such a part of the temple, which he, being no priest, had no right to go into: and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me ; as a rebel and traitor against the king, which had been reported of him, and which would be strengthened by such a step. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:10

Who was shut up - Lived in a sequestered, solitary state; pretending to sanctity, and to close intercourse with God. Let us meet together in the house of God - The meaning is, "Shut yourself up in the temple; appear to have taken sanctuary there, for in it alone can you find safety." This he said to discourage and disgrace him, and to ruin the people; for, had Nehemiah taken his advice, the people would have been without a leader, their enemies would have come upon... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:11

Should such a man as I flee ? - Shall I, who am governor of the people, appointed both by God and the king, shall I betray my trust, and leave the flock without a shepherd? Shall I be a traitor, and abandon the office to which I am appointed? - No! Who, in my situation, with such responsibility, and such prospects, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not: I will stand at my post, and be ready to receive my enemies whensoever they come; so let Sanballat, Tobiah, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-9

Craft detected and baffled. The enemies without make cunning proposals in vain. I. THE OCCASION OF THEIR INTERFERENCE . They heard that the wall was completed, though the gates were not yet set up; and, thinking that further open opposition would be useless, adopted craft. II. THE MANNER OF THEIR INTERFERENCE . 1. They repeatedly proposed a conference. Pretending probably that they wished to come to a good understanding with Nehemiah, but really intending to... read more

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