Nehemiah 6:4-19

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:14

My God, think thou on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works ,.... Their wicked counsels and schemes, and not only confound and disappoint them, but reward them as they deserve: and on the prophetess Noadiah : whom Aben Ezra takes to be the same with Shemaiah, because he said, נועד , "let us meet", &c.; Nehemiah 6:10 , but no doubt it is the name of a woman, a false prophetess, and was hired, and in the same scheme with Shemaiah: and the rest of the prophets that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:15

So the wall was finished in the twenty fifth day of the month Elul ,.... The sixth month, answering to part of August and part of September: in fifty and two days ; which Aben Ezra reckons from the time that Sanballat sent his letter to Nehemiah, when no more were wanting than to set the doors upon the gates, Nehemiah 6:1 , but rather these, with Jarchi, must be reckoned from the time the building was begun; which, reckoning back from the twenty fifth of Elul, it will appear it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:16

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof ,.... That the wall was finished: and all the Heathen that were about us saw these things ; the neighbouring nations, who not only heard with their ears, but saw with their eyes what was done: they were much cast down in their own eyes ; through shame and confusion, because of their own scoffs and jeers; through grief and vexation at the unexpected success of the Jews, and through the fear of them that was fallen upon them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:17

Moreover, in those days ,.... While the wall was building: the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them ; letters passed between them frequently, they informing him how things went on at Jerusalem, and he advising them to what was detrimental to the true interest of their nation; such false friends had Nehemiah about him, and yet the work succeeded under him; which showed it the more to be of God. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:18

For there were many in Judah sworn unto him ,.... To Tobiah, who not only in a private manner corresponded with him by letters, but bound themselves by an oath to him to be true to his interest, and do as he should advise them: because he was the son in law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah ; of a family that came up with Zerubbabel from the captivity, Ezra 2:5 and very probably of considerable note: and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah ; a very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:19

Also they reported his good deeds before me ,.... Recommended him as a very worthy man, deserving of respect and notice by Nehemiah, and to be taken into his friendship, and admitted to conversation with him, whose counsel and advice might be of service: and uttered my words to him ; reported both what he said and did; for the word used signifies both words and actions: and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear ; perceiving, by the intelligence of his friends, that Nehemiah would... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:5

With an open letter in his hand - This was an insult to a person of Nehemiah's quality: as letters sent to chiefs and governors in the East are always carefully folded up, and put in costly silken bags, and these carefully sealed. The circumstance is thus marked to show the contempt he (Sanballat) had for him. read more

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