Nehemiah 4:7-15 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:8

And conspired all of them together ,.... All the above men and people entered into a confederacy and combination: to come and to fight against Jerusalem ; to bring an army with them, and by force cause the Jews to desist; the Jews F5 Pirke Eliezer, c. 38. pretend they came to war, and brought with them an army of 180,000 men, which is not probable: and to hinder it ; the building of the walls of it; or "to make a wandering for him" F6 לעשות לו תועה "ad faciendum ei... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:9

Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God ,.... Spread their case before him in prayer, entreating direction and help from him: and set a watch against them day and night, because of them ; to give notice of their approach, that they might prepare to defend themselves; though they prayed to God, and trusted in him for deliverance, they did not neglect the use of means. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:10

And Judah said ,.... Several of the men of Judah: the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed ; through much labour, in carrying heavy loads of stone and timber to the builders, and yet more through fear of the enemy: and there is much rubbish ; which ought to be removed, but that the labourers were so weak that they could not do it: so that we are not able to build the wall ; to finish it before the enemy comes to attack us. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:11

And our adversaries said, they shall not know ,.... Our designs upon them: neither see ; or perceive what we are about to do: till we come in the midst of them ; with an army suddenly, at an unawares, and unexpected: and slay them ; they being unarmed, and not prepared to defend themselves: and cause the work to cease ; as it must in course, the builders being slain. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:12

Near Samaria, Arabia, and Ashdod, and had intelligence of their designs: came, they said to us ten times ; that is, they came to them at Jerusalem, and often told them, as this phrase "ten times" signifies; see Gill on Genesis 31:7 , from all places whence ye shall return unto us : they will be upon you, come which way you will, so that ye are in the utmost danger: or "from all places"; where you are repairing and rebuilding: return to us ; that ye may enjoy peace and prosperity... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:13

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall ,.... Where the wall was lowest, and the enemy could more easily break it down, or get over it: and on the higher places ; where the wall was higher; or rather on the towers upon the walls, as the word signifies the tops of rocks, which are dry and smooth, see Ezekiel 24:2 . I even set the people after their families ; according to their rank, number, strength, and valour: with their swords, their spears, and their bows ; with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:14

And I looked ,.... Took a view of the people, and observed that they were in their proper place, and sufficiently armed, and also whether the enemy was coming: and rose up and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people ; who were under their nobles and rulers, as their captains and commanders: be not ye afraid of them ; of their enemies, their numbers, and their threats: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible ; who is greater than they, and is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:15

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard it was known unto us ,.... What they intended, as might be reported to them from the preparations made by the Jews to receive them, and defend themselves: and God had brought their counsel to naught ; which was to come upon them secretly and unawares; but being discovered, they dropped their design, and their scheme came to nothing: so that we returned all of us to the wall, every man to his work ; to that part of it where he wrought, in... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:15

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