Nehemiah 4:15

IN SPITE OF THREATENING ENEMIES THE WORK WENT ON

"And it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God brought their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall every one unto his work. And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, and the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They that builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with his other held his weapon; and the builders every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one from another: in what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God will fight for us."

"God brought their counsel to naught" (Nehemiah 4:15). This simply means that Sanballat, hearing and observing Nehemiah's preparations and determination to fight, backed down from his ugly threats. In his mind, no doubt, was the knowledge that the king of Persia was also behind Nehemiah's fortifying Jerusalem. "That no conflict came about shows that when the enemy approached, and saw from a distance, the whole people awaiting them in perfect order with all equipment and weapons at the ready, they simply lost heart and turned back."[17]

"Half of my servants wrought in the work" (Nehemiah 4:16). These are generally understood to have been "official servants that pertained to Nehemiah";[18] but there remains the possibility that the military escort provided by the king of Persia was yet with Nehemiah, there having been no report of its return to Persia. Therefore there is the possibility that these were meant.

"Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon" (Nehemiah 4:17). This expression is obviously somewhat figurative, as explained by the next clause, "Everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded." The great London preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon published a paper called Sword and Trowel, named after what is written here.

"The coats of mail" (Nehemiah 4:16). "Coats of mail were common in Assyria from the 9th century B.C., and even earlier in Egypt; they were made of thin leaves of bronze or iron sewed upon leather or linen and overlapping one another."[19]

"The sound of the trumpet" (Nehemiah 4:20). "When an attack was made, the trumpet sounded at that point; all the workers rallied, and the enemy was either frightened or driven away. Even those who lived beyond the city came into Jerusalem at night to sleep."[20]