Nehemiah 4:1-23 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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-15

We have here, I. The conspiracy which the Jews? enemies formed against them, to stay the building by slaying the builders. The conspirators were not only Sanballat and Tobiah, but other neighbouring people whom they had drawn into the plot. They flattered themselves with a fancy that the work would soon stand still of itself; but, when they heard that it went on a prospered, they were angry at the Jews for being so hasty to push the work forward and angry at themselves for being so slow in... read more

Matthew Henry

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 4:1

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall ,.... Or were building it; for as yet it was not finished, see Nehemiah 4:6 , he was wroth, and took great indignation ; inwardly, though outwardly he pretended to treat the work with contempt, as if it never would be accomplished, which yet he feared: and mocked the Jews ; as a set of foolish builders, and unable to finish what they had begun. 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:3

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him ,.... Who was one of his brethren he spake before, Nehemiah 4:2 , and he said ; in the like contemptuous and scoffing manner: even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall ; signifying not only that it was so low that a fox could easily get up to it, or leap over it; but that the materials were so bad, and the work so poorly done, that the weight of a fox would break it down; of which creatures many were... read more

John Gill

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

Hear, O our God, for we are despised ,.... Here begins the prayer of Nehemiah, who had been informed of what these men said in contempt of him, and his builders, and to whom he sent no answer, but applied to God: and turn their reproach upon their own head ; as they have despised and reproached us, let them be despised and reproached by their neighbours: give them for a prey in the land of captivity ; let them be carried captive, as we have been, and become a prey and booty to their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:5

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee ,.... Let it not go unpunished, and even let it not be pardoned; which is spoken, not from a private spirit of revenge, but from a public spirit for the glory of God, and his justice; and not as a mere imprecation, but as a prophecy of what would be the case, in like manner as many of David's petitions in the Psalms; and for this there was a good foundation, since God had threatened the Moabites and Ammonites... read more

John Gill

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

So built we the wall ,.... Went on in building it, notwithstanding their scoffs and threats: and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof ; it was carried all round the city to half the height of it: for the people had a mind to work ; their heart was in it, they had a good will to it, and they made haste to finish it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7

And it came to pass that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians ,.... Who were under and influenced by Geshem the Arabian: and the Ammonites ; over whom Tobiah was governor: and the Ashdodites ; who were of Ashdod or Azotus, one of the principalities of the Philistines, who were always enemies to the Jews: heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up ; or "the length of them went up" F4 עלתה ארוכה "ascendisset longitudo", Montanus; so Coeceius in rad. ארך . ;... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-15

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:1

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:3

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:5

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7

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