Nehemiah 4:23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 4:16-23

When the builders had so far reason to think the design of the enemies broken as to return to their work, yet they were not so secure as to lay down their arms, knowing how restless and unwearied they were in their attempts, and that, if one design failed, they would be hatching another. Thus must we watch always against our spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be accomplished till our work is. See what course Nehemiah took, that the people might hold themselves in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:23

So neither I, nor my brethren ,.... The nobles and rulers: nor my servants ; his domestic servants that waited upon him: nor the men of the guard which followed me ; his bodyguard, which attended him as a commissioner of the king of Persia for state and grandeur: none of us put off our clothes ; at night when they laid themselves down to sleep, but laid in, them, that they might be ready upon an alarm made: saving that everyone put them off for washing ; not for common... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:23

None of us put off our clothes , saving that every one put them off for washing - The Hebrew for all this is only המים שלחו איש בגדינו פשטים אנחנו אין ein anachnu poshetim begadeynu ish shilcho hammayim ; which Montanus translates, Non nos exuentes vestes nostras, vir missile suum aquas ; "We, not putting off our garments, a man his dart to the waters." Of this latter clause what sense can be made? Let us hear what the ancient versions say. The Vulgate, ... 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 4:7-23

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:16-23

Armed workers. The enemies of the Jews, who meditated an attack upon them, finding that they were aware of their design and well prepared to receive them, withdrew their forces, and the work of restoring the wall went on again. Nehemiah, however, thought it necessary that the people should be prepared for resistance at any moment. He therefore kept half his own retinue always on guard, well armed, while the other half worked; he appointed that every labourer should work armed; those whose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:23

My brethren . Actual brothers probably. That Nehemiah had brothers appears from Nehemiah 1:2 ; that one of them, Hanani, had accompanied him to Jerusalem is evident from Nehemiah 7:2 . My servants . See above, Nehemiah 7:16 . The men of the guard that followed me . As governor, Nehemiah would maintain a body-guard, in addition to his band of slaves. Saving that every one put them off for washing . So the Vulgate: " Unnsquisque tantum nudabatur ad baptismum ;" but it is at least... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 4:23

Saving ... - The text here is probably unsound. It yields no satisfactory sense. See the margin. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 4:23

Nehemiah 4:23. None of us put off our clothes Neither by day nor by night, as the manner is when people go to rest, but they constantly kept themselves in readiness to fight, if any assault were made on the city. Saving that every one put them off for washing When they were to wash and cleanse themselves from some impurity, which might befall them or their garments. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 4:16-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:16-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 4:23

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 4:23

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