Nehemiah 6:15-19 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 6:15-19

Nehemiah is here finishing the wall of Jerusalem, and yet still has trouble created him by his enemies. I. Tobiah, and the other adversaries of the Jews, had the mortification to see the wall built up, notwithstanding all their attempts to hinder it. The wall was begun and finished in fifty-two days, and yet we have reason to believe they rested on the sabbaths, Neh. 6:15. Many were employed, and there was room for them; what they did they did cheerfully, and minded their business because they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:15

So the wall was finished in the twenty fifth day of the month Elul ,.... The sixth month, answering to part of August and part of September: in fifty and two days ; which Aben Ezra reckons from the time that Sanballat sent his letter to Nehemiah, when no more were wanting than to set the doors upon the gates, Nehemiah 6:1 , but rather these, with Jarchi, must be reckoned from the time the building was begun; which, reckoning back from the twenty fifth of Elul, it will appear it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:16

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof ,.... That the wall was finished: and all the Heathen that were about us saw these things ; the neighbouring nations, who not only heard with their ears, but saw with their eyes what was done: they were much cast down in their own eyes ; through shame and confusion, because of their own scoffs and jeers; through grief and vexation at the unexpected success of the Jews, and through the fear of them that was fallen upon them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:17

Moreover, in those days ,.... While the wall was building: the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them ; letters passed between them frequently, they informing him how things went on at Jerusalem, and he advising them to what was detrimental to the true interest of their nation; such false friends had Nehemiah about him, and yet the work succeeded under him; which showed it the more to be of God. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:18

For there were many in Judah sworn unto him ,.... To Tobiah, who not only in a private manner corresponded with him by letters, but bound themselves by an oath to him to be true to his interest, and do as he should advise them: because he was the son in law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah ; of a family that came up with Zerubbabel from the captivity, Ezra 2:5 and very probably of considerable note: and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah ; a very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:19

Also they reported his good deeds before me ,.... Recommended him as a very worthy man, deserving of respect and notice by Nehemiah, and to be taken into his friendship, and admitted to conversation with him, whose counsel and advice might be of service: and uttered my words to him ; reported both what he said and did; for the word used signifies both words and actions: and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear ; perceiving, by the intelligence of his friends, that Nehemiah would... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:15

The twenty and fifth - of - Elul - This Jewish month answers to a part of our August and September. Fifty and two days - I see no difficulty in supposing that several thousand workmen, each of whom was working as for God, should be able to complete this wall in fifty-two days. There is little doubt that several parts of the old wall were entire; in many places the foundations still remained; there were all the materials of the old wall still at hand; and though they had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:16

This work was wrought of our God - This is an additional reason why we should not wonder at the shortness of the time in which so great a work was done, for God helped them by an especial providence; and this was so very observable, that their carnal enemies could discover it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:17

The nobles of Judah sent many letters - The circumstances marked in this and the following verses show still more clearly the difficulties which Nehemiah had to encounter; he had enemies without and false friends within. A treacherous correspondence was carried on between the nobles of Judah and the Ammonites; and had almost any other man been at the head of the Jewish affairs, Jerusalem had never been re-established. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:18

He was the son-in-law of Shechaniah - Previously to the coming of Nehemiah, the Jews seemed to be fast intermixing with the heathen, by intermarriages with Ashdodites, Ammonites, and Moabites; see Nehemiah 13:23 . Ezra had many evils of this kind to redress, ( Ezra 9:3 , etc.), chiefly among the common people, though there were both chiefs and priests in that trespass. But here we find the heathen and Jewish nobles interlinked; and the latter were so far imbued with the spirit... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 6:15-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 6:18

Group of Brands