Nehemiah 4:7

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 4:7

The walls of Jerusalem were made up - That is, they were made up to the half height of the wall; for the preceding verse seems to intimate that the whole wall was thus far built; not half of the wall completed, but the whole wall built to half its height. 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

It came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah , at Samaria, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites , in their respective residences, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up , or "that the (entire) wall of Jerusalem was of a (good) height," they were wroth . Observe that Tobiah is here quite separated from the nation of the Ammonites, and in no way represented as their leader. Jealousy of Jerusalem on the part of the Ammonites and Philistines is quite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 4:7-15

Armed opposition. Ridicule failing and the work progressing, the enemies of the Jews, more angry than ever, conspire to stop it by force of arms. We have here— I. ENEMIES WITHOUT . 1. Various ( Nehemiah 4:7 ). 2. Combined ( Nehemiah 4:8 ). 3. Angry ( Nehemiah 4:7 ). 4. Wily ( Nehemiah 4:11 ). 5. Ruthless ( ibid. ) . 6. Determined to stop the work. II. DIFFICULTIES WITHIN . 1. The weariness and discouragement of the labourers ( ... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 4:7

The Arabians ... - Probably a band, composed largely of Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, which Sanballat maintained as a guard to his person, and which formed a portion of “the army of Samaria” Nehemiah 4:2. A quarrel between such a band and the people of Jerusalem might be overlooked by the Persian king. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 4:7-8

Nehemiah 4:7-8. That the breaches began to be stopped That is, the breaches which the Chaldeans had made and left in the walls were well nigh repaired. Then they were very wroth They had flattered themselves with a notion that the work would soon stand still of itself; but when they heard that it went on and prospered, they were angry at the Jews for pushing it forward so hastily, and at themselves for being so slow in opposing it. And conspired all of them together Though of different... read more

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