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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 6:10

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-14

God with us. The true safety of God's people in the midst of the world's opposition. Nehemiah represents the spirit of consecration, zeal, single-mindedness, dependence upon God, personal responsibility, and confidence in final issues, which should be the spirit of all God's people, and especially of those who hold prominent places in the Church. I. THE FACT OF OPPOSITION . 1. It is a constant fact. The form may change, but the substance is the same. Sleepless vigilance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-16

The temptations of earnest moral life and service. I. THE WAY IN WHICH THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF EARNEST MORAL LIFE AND SERVICE ARE MADE KNOWN TO WICKED MEN . "Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein" ( Nehemiah 6:1 ). Christian life and service will make themselves known— 1. Naturally. The finished walls must be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:10

A Shemaiah appears in the list of priests who afterwards signed the covenant ( Nehemiah 10:8 ); but the names in that list do not appear to be personal. There is a Shemaiah also among the priests who took part in the dedication of the wall ( Nehemiah 12:42 ); he is not said, however, to be "the son of Delaiah." Shut up . Prevented, i.e; by some legal impurity from taking part in the temple service, or even entering the temple. In the house of God, within the temple . Rather,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:10-19

Enemies within. I. FALSE PROPHETS . Who prostituted their office by hiring themselves to the enemies without. For they "loved the wages of unrighteousness." 1. One tempted him to break the law by fleeing into the holy place, and shutting himself up there, where no one but a priest or Levite might enter. This he did on the pretence that Nehemiah's life was in danger (verse 10); and he hoped that the governor, consenting to the proposal, would bring himself into disgrace with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:10-19

Trial and victory. Defeated again, the enemy has recourse to other schemes. It would be interesting to know what were the expectations with which Nehemiah set out from Susa to enter upon the work before him. If we could tell what was then in his mind, we should probably find there anticipations very unlike indeed to his actual experiences. Probably, if he could have foreseen his difficulties, he might have shrunk from the task. Happily we do not foresee the perplexities of Christian toil;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 6:10

Who was shut up - On account, probably, of some legal uncleaness. Compare Jeremiah 36:5. read more

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