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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-9

Two plots upon Nehemiah we have here an account of, how cunningly they were laid by his enemies and how happily frustrated by God's good providence and his prudence. I. A plot to trepan him into a snare. The enemies had an account of the good forwardness the work was in, that all the breaches of the wall were made up, so that they considered it as good as done, though at that time the doors of the gates were off the hinges (Neh. 6:1); they must therefore now or never, by one bold stroke, take... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:2

Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me ,.... Messengers: saying, come, let us meet together in some one of the villages ; in Cephirim, which Jarchi takes to be the name of a place, perhaps the same with Cephirah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:26 in the plain of Ono ; which was in the same tribe, see 1 Chronicles 8:12 , they might pretend a friendly meeting, to accommodate differences between them, or to converse together about the general interest of the king of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:3

And I sent messengers unto them ,.... He did not show any open contempt of them, nor did he even return answer by the messenger that came from them, but sent some of his own people to them: saying, I am doing a great work ; was about an affair of great importance, very busy, and not at leisure to give them a meeting: so that I cannot come down ; Jerusalem being built on an eminence, and the place proposed to meet at in a plain, going thither is expressed by coming down: why should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:4

Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort ,.... Being very desirous of getting him into their hands, and therefore were very pressing and importunate: and I answered them after the same manner ; every time as before, he being as much bent on finishing the work as they were to divert him from it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:2

Come , let us meet together in - the plain of Ono - They wished to get him out of Jerusalem from among his friends, that they might either carry him off, or murder him. Ono is supposed to have been in the tribe of Benjamin, near Jordan. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:3

I am doing a great work - Though he knew their design, he does not think it prudent to mention it. Had he done so, they would probably have gone to extremities, finding that they were discovered; and perhaps in a formidable body attacked Jerusalem, when ill provided to sustain such a shock. They wished to effect their purpose rather by treachery than by open violence. I know not any language which a man who is employed on important labors can use more suitably, as an answer to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-9

Craft detected and baffled. The enemies without make cunning proposals in vain. I. THE OCCASION OF THEIR INTERFERENCE . They heard that the wall was completed, though the gates were not yet set up; and, thinking that further open opposition would be useless, adopted craft. II. THE MANNER OF THEIR INTERFERENCE . 1. They repeatedly proposed a conference. Pretending probably that they wished to come to a good understanding with Nehemiah, but really intending to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-9

The Christian workman. Nehemiah was an instance, and will ever be the type, of a faithful workman in the cause of God; from his conduct and career we may learn— I. HOW VALUABLE ONE WORKMAN MAY PROVE (verses 1, 2). Sin sometimes pays an unconscious tribute to integrity and worth. It acts on the assumption that righteousness is more than equal to its energy, and that, to gain its evil end, it must have recourse to "poisoned weapons." Thus, e.g; Philip of Spain, striving... 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

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