Nehemiah 6:1-6

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 6:1

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 ,.... Quite finished it: and that there was no breach left therein ; but all was made up firm and strong: though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates ; not upon all of them, though some might by the particular builders of them; and they all of them might be ready made, though not as yet put upon the hinges. 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:5

Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time ,.... In his own name, neither Tobiah nor Geshem joining with him, he being more solicitous and anxious to get him into his hands than any of them; and it may be, as some think, pretending more friendship for him than the rest, and therefore writes alone, as if they knew nothing of his writing: with an open letter in his hand : which having in it an intimation of Nehemiah being guilty of treason, anyone that would... read more

John Gill

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

Wherein was written, it is reported among, the Heathen ,.... Among the several neighbouring nations; it was an affair that was not whispered about among a few only; it was common talk, it was in every body's mouth in divers nations: and Gashmu saith it ; the same with Geshem the Arabian; he affirms it, and will abide by his assertion, and engages to make good what he says; he mentions him by name, who he knew would not be offended with him for making use of it, and who doubtless agreed... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:5

With an open letter in his hand - This was an insult to a person of Nehemiah's quality: as letters sent to chiefs and governors in the East are always carefully folded up, and put in costly silken bags, and these carefully sealed. The circumstance is thus marked to show the contempt he (Sanballat) had for him. read more

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