Nehemiah 4:13-21 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:21

So we laboured in the work ,.... Of building the wall: and half of them held the spears; and other weapons before mentioned, Nehemiah 4:16 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:14

Be not ye afraid of them - Are they more terrible or stronger than God? Fight for your brethren - Your own countrymen, who worship the same God, and are come from the same stock; your sons, whom they wish to slay or lead into captivity; your daughters and wives, whom they wish to deflower and defile; and your houses, which they wish to seize and occupy as their own. They had every thing at stake; and therefore they must fight pro aris et focis , for their religion,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:15

Their counsel to naught - The word counsel used here countenances the emendation in the 12th verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:16

Half - wrought in the work - This is no unusual thing, even in the present day, in Palestine: people sowing their seed are often attended by an armed man, to prevent the Arabs from robbing them of their seed, which they will not fail to do if not protected. Habergeons - In the Franco-Gallic, hautbergon signifies a coat of mail; but as in Teutonic hais signifies the neck, and bergen , to cover or defend; it may be considered rather as signifying a breastplate, or armor for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:17

With one of his hands wrought in the work , and with the other hand held a weapon - That is, he had his arms at hand, and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. So Ovid, Epist. xi., Canace Macario, ver. 1: - Si qua tamen caecis errabunt scripta lituris, Oblitus a dominae caede libellus erit: Dextra tenet calamum; strictum tenet altera ferrum: Et jacet in gremio charta soluta meo read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:20

Ye hear the sound of the trumpet - As the walls were very extensive, and the workmen consequently much scattered, their enemies might easily attack and destroy them successively, he therefore ordered them all to work as near to each other as they could; and himself, who was everywhere surveying the work, kept a trumpeter always with him, who was to sound when the enemy approached; and all were instantly to run to the place where they heard the sound. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The work and warfare of the Church. I. The weak of the Church. 1. Derided. "And mocked the Jews" ( Nehemiah 4:1 ). 2. Under-estimated. "These feeble Jews" ( Nehemiah 4:2 ). 3. Misrepresented. "If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall" ( Nehemiah 4:3 ). 4. Prayerful. "Hear, O our God" ( Nehemiah 4:4 ). 5. Hearty. "For the people had a mind to work" ( Nehemiah 4:6 ). 6. Advancing. "Heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

This description of the building of the wall of Jerusalem may be taken as representing the life of the Church militant. The chief points are these:— I. THE SPIRIT which pervades and actuates it. "The people had a mind to work." Activity, self-denial, fellowship, and fortitude. II. THE METHOD . Division and distribution of the work. Builders, fighters, burden-bearers. Some in command, others waiting upon their word. A place for every one in which to work, and every one keeping... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-15

Armed opposition. Ridicule failing and the work progressing, the enemies of the Jews, more angry than ever, conspire to stop it by force of arms. We have here— I. ENEMIES WITHOUT . 1. Various ( Nehemiah 4:7 ). 2. Combined ( Nehemiah 4:8 ). 3. Angry ( Nehemiah 4:7 ). 4. Wily ( Nehemiah 4:11 ). 5. Ruthless ( ibid. ) . 6. Determined to stop the work. II. DIFFICULTIES WITHIN . 1. The weariness and discouragement of the labourers ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-23

The wisdom of the Christian workman in the hour of peril. We are reminded here of— I. THE PROGRESS OF SIN IN ITS COURSE ( Nehemiah 4:8 ). From sneers the enemies of Israel passed on to plots; from taunts to a mischievous conspiracy. They "conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." This advance of theirs was brought about by their hearing that the walls of Jerusalem were "made up." The steadfast labour of the good led, incidentally, to the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-23

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