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Nehemiah 4 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge vs Calvin John vs Coke Thomas

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Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah 4:1

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

Sanballat

Nehemiah 2:10,19 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, …

Ezra 4:1-5 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children …

Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which …

mocked

Psalm 35:15,16 But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: …

Psalm 44:13,14 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to …

Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, …

Hebrews 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover …

Nehemiah 4:2

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

the army

Ezra 4:9,10 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the …

feeble

1 Samuel 14:11,12 And both of them discovered themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: …

1 Samuel 17:43,44 And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me …

Zechariah 12:8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and …

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…

fortify themselves. Heb. leave to themselves. sacrifice

Nehemiah 12:27,43 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites …

revive

Nehemiah 4:10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, …

Ezekiel 37:3-13 And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, …

Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive …

Nehemiah 4:3

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Tobiah

Nehemiah 2:10,19 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, …

Nehemiah 6:1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, …

1 Kings 20:10,18 And Benhadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also…

2 Kings 18:23 Now therefore, I pray you, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, …

Nehemiah 4:4

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

Hear

Psalm 123:3,4 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us: for we are exceedingly …

despised. Heb. despite. turn

1 Samuel 17:26 And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall …

Psalm 79:12 And render to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, …

Proverbs 3:34 Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.

Hosea 12:14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave …

Nehemiah 4:5

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

cover not

Psalm 59:5-13 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit …

Psalm 69:27 Add iniquity to their iniquity: and let them not come into your righteousness.

Psalm 109:14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and …

Jeremiah 18:23 Yet, LORD, you know all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive …

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according …

their sin

Psalm 51:1,9 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness…

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, …

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as …

before the builders

Isaiah 36:11,12 Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray …

Nehemiah 4:6

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

and all the wall (That is, the whole circuit of the wall was completed unto half the intended height.)

for the people (The original is very emphatic, wyhee laiv leam laasoth, 'for the people had a heart to work.' Their heart was engaged in it, and they went about it cheerfully and vigorously.)

had a mind

Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month …

1 Chronicles 29:3,14,17,18 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, …

2 Chronicles 29:36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared …

Psalm 110:3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties …

2 Corinthians 8:16,17 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart …

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you …

Nehemiah 4:7

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

Sanballat

Nehemiah 4:1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the …

Nehemiah 2:10,19 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, …

the Ammonites

Judges 10:7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them …

Judges 11:12 And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, …

1 Samuel 11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make …

2 Samuel 10:1-5 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of …

2 Kings 24:2 And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of …

2 Chronicles 20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the …

Ezekiel 25:3-7 And say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus said …

Amos 1:13 Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, …

Ashdodites

Nehemiah 13:23,24 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of …

1 Samuel 5:1,2 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer …

2 Chronicles 26:6-8 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down …

Jeremiah 25:20 And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, …

Amos 1:8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holds …

Amos 3:9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land …

Zechariah 9:5,6 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very …

heard

Ezra 4:4-16 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, …

Ezra 5:8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, …

were made up. Heb. ascended. then

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your …

Acts 4:17,18 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly …

Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Revelation 12:12,13,17 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them…

Nehemiah 4:8

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

all

Psalm 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing…

Psalm 83:3-11 They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted …

Isaiah 8:9,10 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; …

Acts 23:12,13 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound …

hinder it. Heb. make an error to it

Jeremiah 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say …

Nehemiah 4:9

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Nevertheless

Nehemiah 4:11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till …

Genesis 32:9-12,28 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father …

2 Kings 19:14-19 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and …

Psalm 50:15 And call on me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you …

Psalm 55:16-22 As for me, I will call on God; and the LORD shall save me…

Luke 6:11,12 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another …

Acts 4:24-30 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with …

set a watch

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed …

Luke 21:36 Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy …

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring …

Nehemiah 4:10

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

The strength

Numbers 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against …

Numbers 32:9 For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, …

Psalm 11:1,2 In the LORD put I my trust: how say you to my soul, Flee as a bird …

Haggai 1:2 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time …

bearers

2 Chronicles 2:18 And he set three score and ten thousand of them to be bearers of …

Ezekiel 29:18 Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve …

Nehemiah 4:11

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

They shall not

Judges 20:29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

2 Samuel 17:2 And I will come on him while he is weary and weak handed, and will …

Psalm 56:6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark …

Isaiah 47:11 Therefore shall evil come on you; you shall not know from where it …

Acts 23:12,21 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound …

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as …

Nehemiah 4:12

And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

ten times

Genesis 31:7,41 And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; …

Numbers 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, …

Job 19:3 These ten times have you reproached me: you are not ashamed that …

From all places, etc. or, That from all places ye must return to us. ye shall return (Houbigant, Michaelis, and Dathe contend, that instead of tashoovoo, 'ye shall return,' we should read chalshevoo, 'they designed.'

Nehemiah 4:13

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

Therefore

Genesis 32:13-20 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came …

2 Chronicles 32:2-8 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was …

Psalm 112:5 A good man shows favor, and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you …

1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, be not children in understanding: however, in malice be …

in the lower places. Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc. their swords

Nehemiah 4:17,18 They which built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those …

Songs 3:7,8 Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; three score valiant men are about …

Ephesians 6:11-20 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against …

Nehemiah 4:14

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Be ye not afraid

Numbers 14:9 Only rebel not you against the LORD, neither fear you the people …

Deuteronomy 1:21,29,30 Behold, the LORD your God has set the land before you: go up and …

Deuteronomy 20:3,4 And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day to battle …

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not …

2 Chronicles 20:15-17 And he said, Listen you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, …

2 Chronicles 32:7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king …

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD …

Psalm 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Isaiah 41:10-14 Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: …

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul…

Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not …

remember

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember …

Psalm 77:10-20 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of …

Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all your works; I muse …

Isaiah 51:12,13 I, even I, am he that comforts you: who are you, that you should …

Isaiah 63:11-13 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying…

great

Nehemiah 1:5 And said, I beseech you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God…

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great …

Job 37:22 Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Psalm 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness will you answer us, O God of …

Psalm 66:3,5 Say to God, How terrible are you in your works! through the greatness …

Isaiah 64:1-3 Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that …

Nahum 1:2-7 God is jealous, and the LORD revenges; the LORD revenges, and is …

Hebrews 12:20,21,28,29 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much …

fight

2 Samuel 10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for …

Nehemiah 4:15

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

God

2 Samuel 15:31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators …

2 Samuel 17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai …

Job 5:12,13 He disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot …

Psalm 33:10,11 The LORD brings the counsel of the heathen to nothing: he makes the …

Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Isaiah 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nothing; speak the word, …

Isaiah 44:25 That frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes diviners mad; …

Lamentations 3:37,38 Who is he that said, and it comes to pass, when the Lord commands it not…

1 Corinthians 3:19,20 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, …

every one

Mark 13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his …

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and …

Nehemiah 4:16

And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

my servants

Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the …

Nehemiah 5:15,16 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable …

Psalm 101:6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell …

and the other half (This is no unusual thing in Palestine, even at the present day; people sowing their seed are often attended by armed men, to prevent the Arabs from robbing them of it.)

habergeons (Habergeon, from the Teutonic hals, the neck, and bergen, to cover, defend, may be considered as signifying a breast-plate, though the Franco-Gallic hautbergon signifies a coat of mail; the original shiryon, we have already seen, denotes a corslet.)

Nehemiah 4:17

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

bare burdens

Nehemiah 4:10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, …

every one (That is, he had his arms at hand; and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. The builders could not possibly have made any progress, if they had literally held a weapon in one of their hands; but the expression is evidently figurative, implying that every man was a much a soldier as a builder.)

with one

Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand…

1 Corinthians 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? …

1 Corinthians 16:9,13 For a great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many …

2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness …

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against …

Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an …

2 Timothy 2:3 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Nehemiah 4:18

For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

by his side. Heb. on his loins. he that sounded

Numbers 10:9 And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses …

2 Chronicles 13:12-17 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests …

Nehemiah 4:19

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 far from another.

Nehemiah 4:20

In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

our God

Exodus 14:14,25 The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace…

Deuteronomy 1:30 The LORD your God which goes before you, he shall fight for you, …

Deuteronomy 3:22 You shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

Deuteronomy 20:4 For the LORD your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you …

Joshua 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he …

Zechariah 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as …

Nehemiah 4:21

So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

So we

1 Corinthians 15:10,58 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed …

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall …

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which …

Nehemiah 4:22

Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.

every one

Nehemiah 11:1,2 And the rulers of the people dwelled at Jerusalem: the rest of the …

Nehemiah 4:23

So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

So neither I

Nehemiah 5:16 Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we …

Nehemiah 7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, …

Judges 9:48 And Abimelech got him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that …

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed …

saving that, etc. or, every one went with his weapon for water

Judges 5:11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of …


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Nehemiah 4


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Nehemiah 4

Neh 4:2. What do these feeble Jews, &c.- Mr. Peters observes upon this passage, which is remarkable for its phraseology, that it seems to give no obscure intimation, that the doctrine of the resurrection was the popular belief of the Jews in these days. "Reviving of stones," says he, "is a very easy metaphor to those who are acquainted with the doctrine of the resurrection; but, otherwise, not so easy or obvious." The word היחיו hayechaiiu, vivisicabunt, is the very same that is used for raising the dead. Out of the heaps of rubble, is, in the Hebrew, heaps of dust עפר ערמות areimoth apar, another word often used when speaking of a resurrection; and what follows with an emphasis, and yet these same stones are burnt, points out to us the method of funeral [by burning] used particularly among those who had no belief or expectation of a resurrection.

The Jews to this day charge the poor remnant of the sect of Samaritans with the disbelief of a future resurrection; though, on the other hand, they deny and disavow the charge. It is highly probable, that in our Saviour's time they believed it; for they worshipped the same God, and had the same expectation of a Messiah, as appears from the Samaritan woman's discourse with our Lord, Joh 4:25. But in the days of Nehemiah they seem to have been little better than heathens; a sort of mixed breed, out of the scum of many nations. Nehemiah tells them, ch. Neh 2:20 that they had no right or portion in Jerusalem, being of a different religion from the Jews; it is highly probable, therefore, that they disbelieved a resurrection. Now if Sanballat, in that vein of mirth and buffoonery which he and his friend Tobiah appear at this time to be in, meant to ridicule this doctrine of the Jewish faith, as well as laugh at their attempt in building, we see a plain reason of that indignation which Nehemiah presently conceived at it, and which drew from him that solemn address to God, Neh 4:4. Hear O our God; for we, thy worshippers, are despised, &c. Had there been no more in Sanballat's speech than in that of Tobiah which follows, (who with a scorn, perhaps, more affected than real, says, that a fox, if he were to jump upon it, might break down their stone walls,) so wise and good a man as Nehemiah, probably, would have treated it with silence and contempt: but we find, that he resents it in another manner; beseeches God to turn their reproach upon their own head; speaks of it as a sin or iniquity of the first magnitude; Neh 4:5 for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders; that is, in the most public manner, and in the face of God's people, had dared to utter their impieties, and ridicule that faith which they professed.

Neh 4:7-8. When Sanballat and Tobiah, &c.- The ingenious publisher of the Ruins of Balbeck tells us, that in Palestine he has often seen the husbandman sowing, accompanied by an armed friend, to prevent his being robbed of the seed by the Arabs. This robbing the husbandman of his seed seems to have been an ancient practice of theirs, and to have been referred to, Psa 126:5-6 and made an image by the Psalmist of the happy issue of the first essays of the Jews to re-people their country. For surely it is much more natural to suppose that these verses referred to a violence of this sort, than to imagine, with many interpreters who have treated upon this circumstance, that they allude to a countryman's anxiety, who sows his corn in a very scarce time, and is afraid of the failure of his next crop. The Israelites, who returned to Babylon upon the proclamation of Cyrus, were undoubtedly in similar circumstances to husbandmen sowing their corn amidst surrounding encampments of oppressive Arabs. Their rebuilding their towns and their temple resembled a time of sowing; for from these things they were willing to hope for a great increase of people; but they who continued in Babylon had reason to be jealous that the neighbouring nations would defeat these efforts, and destroy these rising settlements. The sacred historian, in this passage, expressly mentions such difficulties; nor was it difficult to foresee these oppositions: the Arabs had, undoubtedly, pastured their flocks and herds, and pitched their tents all over Judea, when left desolate; and perhaps others of the neighbouring nations had seized upon some of the dispeopled districts which lay most convenient for them: it was the interest then of the Arabs, and of such other nations, to discourage, as far as in them lay, the return of Israel in any numbers into the country of their fathers. In opposition to this jealousy, the prophet expresses, perhaps predicts, his hope, that there would be a happy issue of these beginnings to re-people their country: "Make the people of our captivity to return, O Lord! into their country; and, like the streams of the south, to cause these desarts to flourish again. Let them be persuaded, that, though they lay these foundations of re-peopling their country with an anxiety like that of a poor husbandman, who goes forth weeping, for fear he should be robbed of his seed, they shall feel a joy hereafter, like his, when he brings back his sheaves with rejoicing, in the so thoroughly re-establishing Israel in Judea, as to have no cause to apprehend any thing from the surrounding nations." Observations, p. 52.

Neh 4:12. They said unto us ten times, &c.- They told us frequently from all places that which they designed against us. Houbigant.

Neh 4:17. Every one with one of his hands, &c.- This is figurative, and means only that they were prepared either to build or to fight, it being impossible for them to have worked, if both hands had not been at liberty.

Neh 4:23. Saving that every one put them off for washing- Even for a whole month. Houbigant.

REFLECTIONS.-1st, Never did the cause of God begin to prosper, but the enemies of God began to malign and resist it. Let us never be discouraged, if we see this old enmity revive.

1. Sanballat and Tobiah, the sworn enemies of the Jews, no sooner have intelligence of the design, than, vexed at the heart, they set themselves to oppose it. They treat the feeble Jews with scorn, and ridicule the attempt as impracticable. Note; (1.) Ridicule and contempt are some of the sharp arrows in the world's quiver, which they never fail to throw at God's faithful labourers. (2.) Though many pretend to mock and despise the work of God, at heart they are grieved, and fear whereunto this will grow. (3.) One wicked man encourages another; but, though scoffers make their bands strong, God will cover them shortly with confusion.

2. Nehemiah prays against the revilings of his enemies; and, if he can interest God's regard for him, little cares for their opposition, which he knows God will then turn to their own shame. Note; (1.) The way to answer the scorn of the world is, by carrying our case to the Lord our God: he heareth, and judgeth. (2.) They who would be Christ's servants must expect the world's ill word and abuse. (3.) They who discourage the hearts of God's faithful labourers, treasure up a peculiar measure of wrath against the day of wrath.

3. The people, more encouraged by Nehemiah's prayer than deterred by their enemies' abuse, raised the wall all round the city to half its height; for their hearts were in the work. Note; (1.) Much may be done in a little time when all are hearty in lending their assistance. (2.) We need not fear the revilings of men, when we are assured of the blessing of God upon our labours.

2nd, When secret reviling prevented not the progress of the building, they prepared by open force to resist it.

1. Sanballat and Tobiah engaged the Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, to assist them, and join their forces to attack the Jews, whose piety they as much hated, as they envied their growing prosperity. To crush them, therefore, in the bud, they in great wrath formed a league, secretly contriving to fall upon the builders before they were apprized of their danger, and there to massacre them, unarmed and unprepared; the consequence of which must needs be the interruption of the building. Note; (1.) The hatred of the wicked is a deadly hatred, which thirsteth for the precious life. Persecutors of God's people are ever cruel. (2.) When God's cause is to be oppressed, they who were ever so much at variance among themselves will cordially unite their forces against this hated object. (3.) Though craft and prayer be with the enemies of God's church, he that sitteth above the heavens mocks at their impotent attempts.

2. The faint-heartedness of some of the men of Judah was as great a discouragement as the threatenings of the Samaritans. Wearied with the service, disheartened at the difficulties, and despairing of success, they are ready to discontinue their efforts, as if tired out, and unable longer to support the fatigue. Note; Unbelieving Israelites are a greater hindrance than infidel enemies.

3. Intelligence was brought of their enemies' designs. Note; Though the counsels of the wicked are ever so secret, God can detect and disappoint them.

4. Nehemiah bravely and prudently provided against the impending danger. To God he first committed their case, in fervent prayer for direction and support; then placed a proper guard, some behind the wall, where it was lowest, and others on the higher part, or towers, whence they could most incommode the enemy. And, as he perceived the people in consternation, he encourages them to trust in God, their almighty aid, whose arm could easily baffle their foes; and animates them to fight, from the consideration that their all was at stake, and that on their courage the safety of all depended. Note; (1.) In every distress, our first recourse should be to God. (2.) Every prudent human means must be diligently used in dependance on him. (3.) Nothing inspires the heart of a believer with such courage, as the view of almighty grace engaged for his support.

5. The enemy hearing that their design was discovered, and seeing the preparations made to receive them, desisted from their enterprize, and the work again happily went forward. Note; Experience of God's care over us should engage our increasing fidelity and zeal in his service.

3rdly, Though the present storm was blown over, Nehemiah took care to be always prepared for any unforeseen attack. Security is dangerous: it becomes the soldier of Christ to be continually on his guard.

1. Half of Nehemiah's guards were at all times ready accoutred, while the other half worked on the wall; and they relieved each other. Every builder had his sword on his thigh, and his weapons at hand, that at a moment's warning he might be ready; and their rulers also stood behind them to encourage them. Note; (1.) They who labour for God have ever need of the sword of the Spirit, that they may be ready armed against every enemy. (2.) Union among christians is their great stability. (3.) They who are distinguished in station, gifts, or office, must be encouragers of others by their zeal and example.

2. To strengthen them against any surprise by night, Nehemiah caused all the country labourers to lodge in the city, that they might be at hand in case of attack. As for himself and his attendants, they never put off their clothes, except to change, or to wash for any ceremonial uncleanness. From the dawn of day to the twilight, they held their spears; and at night, while some kept guard, the rest were ready at a moment's call. Note; (1.) As we are ever in danger, we must continually watch: our spiritual enemies neither sleep nor slumber. (2.) Any hardship will the good soldier of Jesus Christ cheerfully endure, when called to it for the glory of God and the service of immortal souls.


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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by R. A. Torrey [ca. 1880]
Expanded version courtesy INT Bible ©2013, Used by permission
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