Nehemiah 4:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

Here is, I. The spiteful scornful reflection which Sanballat and Tobiah cast upon the Jews for their attempt to build the wall about Jerusalem. The country rang of it presently; intelligence was brought of it to Samaria, that nest of enemies to the Jews and their prosperity; and here we are told how they received the tidings. 1. In heart. They were very angry at the undertaking, and had great indignation, Neh. 4:1. It vexed them that Nehemiah came to seek the welfare of the children of Israel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:2

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 they pretend to do, or what can they do? will they fortify themselves ? by building a wall about their city; can they think they shall ever be able to do this, or that it will be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:2

The army of Samaria - As he was governor, he had the command of the army, and he wished to excite the soldiers to second his views against Nehemiah and his men. What do these feeble Jews ? - We may remark here, in general, that the enemies of God's work endeavor by all means to discredit and destroy it, and those who are employed in it. They despise the workmen: What do these feeble Jews? They endeavor to turn all into ridicule: Will they fortify themselves? They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

Ridicule of a good work. Sanballat and his friends had at first thought it impossible that Nehemiah would attempt to repair and restore the wall of Jerusalem, But when they found that the work was actually begun, and making good progress, their anger was equalled only by their astonishment, and they gave vent to their wrath in scoffs and ridicule. Happily they seem to have been so misled by their contempt for the feebleness of the Jews as to have deemed it impossible that they could really... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

Derision and devotion. Not the first nor the last instance was this one here recorded of— I. DEVOTION ASSAILED BY DERISION ( Nehemiah 4:1-3 ). Sanballat and Tobiah were contemptuously angry when they heard that the Jews had actually begun to build: they "took great indignation, and mocked the Jews" ( Nehemiah 4:1 ). "What do these feeble Jews?" said Sanballat ( Nehemiah 4:2 ). "If a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall," said Tobiah ( Nehemiah 4:3 ), using... 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 4:2

Before his brethren . By "his brethren" would seem to be meant his chief counsellors—probably Tobiah among them . The army of Samaria . Some understand by this a Persian garrison, stationed in Samaria under its own commander, with which Sanballat had influence, but there is no real ground for such a supposition. Psalms 83:1-18 , belongs probably to David's time; and as Samaria had doubtless its own native force of armed citizens, who were Sanballat's subjects, it is quite unnecessary to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 4:1-2

Nehemiah 4:1-2. And mocked the Jews Pretending contempt in his words, when he had grief, anger, and vexation in his heart. And he spake before his brethren Before Tobiah, Geshem, and others, whom Nehemiah calls his brethren, because of their conjunction with him in office and interest. And the army in Samaria Whom he hereby designed to incense against them, or, at least, whose minds he thought thus to learn. What do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify, &c. Do they intend to begin... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 4:1-2

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