Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:20
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
20. The God of heaven ] see on Neh 1:4.
will prosper us ] See Neh 1:11. The Vulgate ‘juvat nos,’ the present tense corresponding to the following clause ‘we are his servants,’ is quite permissible: but is not so suitable to the occasion of Nehemiah’s reply.
we his servants ] as in Neh 1:6; Neh 1:10.
arise and build ] Neh 2:18. The LXX. by a strange error renders , reading ‘n’qiyyim’ for ‘naqm.’
no portion, nor right, nor memorial ] These words closely resemble the declaration in Ezr 4:3, and imply some sort of claim on the part of these adversaries to a share in the fortunes of Jerusalem. If so, the adversaries must be regarded as mainly consisting of the Samaritan community. Nehemiah renouncing connexion with the Samaritans, affirms that they have no share in the present community, no ground for claiming it in the future, no memorial or justification of such claim in the past.
no portion ] Cf. 2Sa 20:1.
nor right ] The word here used has generally the sense of righteousness. Here it means ‘right,’ ‘just claim;’ so in 2Sa 19:28 ‘What right therefore have I, &c.;’ and Joe 2:23, ‘he giveth you the former rain in just measure’ (marg. ‘Or in (or for) righteousness’).
nor memorial ] i.e. the Samaritans had no memorial nor proof of their past connexion with Jerusalem. The word is rendered ‘remembrance’ in Ecc 1:11; Ecc 2:16; ‘memorial,’ Num 16:40; Num 31:54. Cf. ‘write this for a memorial in a book’ (Exo 17:14); ‘a book of remembrance’ (Mal 3:16).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 20. Ye have no portion, nor right] To be a citizen of Jerusalem was a high honour; and they would not permit those who did not belong to the tribes of Israel to dwell there. Zerubbabel gave the same answer to the Samaritans, Ezr 4:3.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Ye have no portion nor right; you have no authority over us, nor interest in our church, or state, or city, but are mere aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. We disown and detest that mongrel worship and religion which you have set up. We desire not your favour, or friendship, or help in this matter. And you have nothing to do to inquire into or meddle with our concerns, or to hinder us in our present undertaking.
Nor memorial; no testimony, or monument, either of your relation to us by birth or religion, or of your kindness to us or to this place. But we have many memorials of your malice and enmity against us.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then answered I them, and said unto them,…. With much spirit and boldness, not at all intimidated by their scoffs or threats:
the God of heaven, he will prosper us; whom we serve, and under whose protection we are, who will supply us with everything we want, and succeed this undertaking, in whose name we engage in it, and on whom we depend, and we care not what man can do to us:
therefore we his servants will arise and build; in spite of all opposition, difficulties, and discouragements:
but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem; no part of the city belonged to them; they had no jurisdiction there; they had no name there, nor their ancestors, in times past; nor had they done anything to perpetuate their memory in it: in short, they had nothing to do with them, neither in religious nor in civil things; and it was best for them to mind their own affairs where they presided, and not trouble themselves about theirs.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) He will prosper us.The reply is a defiance in the name of the God of heaven. The closing words imply that, as in the days of Zerubbabel, the Samaritan enemies desired really to have their share in the undertaking. Nehemiah makes Zerubbabels answer, but strengthens it; they had nothing in common with Jerusalem, not even a place in its memorials, save one of shame.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Ye have no portion Compare Ezr 4:2, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 439
THE ZEAL OF NEHEMIAH
Neh 2:20. The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build.
WHOEVER engages diligently in the work of God, must expect trials: as it is said in the apocryphal Book of Ecclesiasticus, My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptations [Note: Ecc 2:1.]. The ungodly will deride our efforts, and put the most unfavourable construction upon them, that the most ingenious malice can invent. The pious labours of Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, though sanctioned by the monarch himself, were regarded by his enemies as indications of folly, and as preparatives for rebellion [Note: ver. 19.]. But Nehemiah, as David had done before him, encouraged himself in the Lord his God [Note: 1Sa 30:6.].
It is my intention,
I.
To set before you the graces he exercised
In the words which we have just read, we behold,
1.
His confidence
[I am not aware that Nehemiah received from God any particular commission to engage in the work he had undertaken, or any direct promise of success: yet did he assure himself that God would prosper him. And this displayed a proper confidence in God. For he felt a consciousness, that in all that he had undertaken, he was seeking no interest of his own, but simply the honour of his God. In any matter that was purely personal, he would not have been justified in indulging so confident an expectation: but in a work like that in which he was engaged, and to the prosecution of which he was impelled by a high principle of love to God, he could have no doubt but that he should receive from heaven such a measure of support as should bring his labours to a happy issue. The desire to embark in it had been stirred up in him by the Spirit of God: he trusted, therefore, that the blessing of God would accompany his endeavours.
This confidence, though right to be indulged, by no means warrants us to limit God as to the time, or manner, or measure of the success which he shall vouchsafe unto us. These things must be left to his all-wise disposal: for he alone knows what will tend most to the advancement of his own glory. But so far as the attainment of our objects will bring glory to him, we may assure ourselves, that we shall never be suffered to labour for him in vain.]
2.
His zeal
[Great were the difficulties which he had to encounter. For an hundred years since the return of the Jews from Babylon, had the walls of Jerusalem continued in a most dilapidated state, and all the gates had been destroyed by fire. No attempt had yet been made even to remove the rubbish [Note: ver. 13, 14.]. Nor were the princes among the people at all disposed to cooperate with him in an effort to repair the ruins: they, alas! would not put their neck to the work [Note: Neh 3:5.]. His brethren of Judah, also, who should have been foremost in the work, discouraged it, by representing the task as hopeless and impracticable [Note: Neh 4:10.]. His enemies at the same time exerted themselves to defeat his enterprise, by pouring contempt upon it, and conspiring, by all possible means, to counteract it [Note: Neh 4:8.]. But Nehemiah was determined to execute the purpose which he had conceived: and for that end set all hands to work, every one in his own proper district, that, by a great and simultaneous effort, the desired object might be attained. And whereas he was menaced by armed bands who threatened to destroy him, he armed the labourers, each with his sword or spear, that they might be ready at an instant to repel any assault that might be made upon them; so that, as it were, they held the sword in one hand, and carried on the work with the other [Note: Neh 4:16-18.]. This was a conduct worthy of a servant of the Most High God. In fact, the confidence he expressed, and the determination he formed, had a strict reference to each other. A servant of God was authorized to maintain the confidence, and was bound, in dependence on God, to form and execute the determination: The Lord God, he will prosper us; therefore we, his servants, will arise and build, neither regarding difficulties, however great, nor fearing enemies, however powerful.]
Admiring the virtues of this eminent saint, I proceed,
II.
To commend them to your imitation
Be ye, my Brethren, followers of him,
1.
In reference to Gods work in the world at large
[The world is one great kingdom that belongs to Christ. But far is it from being in a state worthy of its Great Proprietor! Truly it is, as it were, in ruins; one great and shapeless mass of desolation, bearing upon the whole face of it the relentless efforts of the destroyer. And should not we, when informed of its miserable condition, be filled with grief, as Nehemiah for Jerusalem, and implore mercy for it, as he did for that ruinated city? Should we not improve our influence for its good; and be ready, by our own personal exertions, to promote to the uttermost its welfare? What, if they who should take the lead are careless and supine? What, if many of our own brethren are lukewarm and desponding? What, if our means for helping forward its concerns are very narrow and contracted? What, if those who are hostile to such an attempt, exert themselves to intimidate and counteract us? Should we therefore sit down in listlessness and despair? No: we should encourage ourselves in God, and put forth all our energies in his service. In the incredibly short space of fifty-two days, Nehemiah, in the midst of all his discouragements, accomplished his work: for, we are told, the people had a mind to work [Note: Neh 4:6.]. And who shall say what Christians might effect, if they were but penetrated with becoming zeal, and would combine their efforts in a judicious way. From the state both of the Jewish and Gentile world, any one would have supposed it impossible for a few devout and pious persons to effect any thing in so short a space of time as twenty or thirty years: yet, behold, plans originating with a few, who contemplated nothing but a little partial benefit, have spread almost over the world itself their beneficial efficacy; insomuch that what was at first but as a cloud, the size of a mans hand, has already overspread the heavens, and descended in fertilizing showers on every quarter of the globe. Let us take courage from what we have seen, and press forward in the work that is yet before us; not contemplating difficulties, but confiding in our God, and going on in his strength to fulfil his holy and blessed will.]
2.
In reference to Gods work in our own souls
[These, too, are in a fearfully dilapidated state; so that one who looks at an arm of flesh only would be ready to despair. And need I say what discouragements are put in the way of those who would serve their God? Amidst princes that are supine, friends that are lukewarm, and spectators that are arrayed in hostility against us, it requires much faith and patience to carry us forward in so arduous an undertaking. But we should address ourselves to the work, and combine all our energies to repair the breaches which sin has made upon our souls. We should put on, too, the whole armour of God, and fight the good fight of faith. We should suffer neither men nor devils to deter us from our work, but should proceed with diligence till the whole work of God is wrought within us. If we would proceed with the zeal which such a cause should inspire, what might we not effect, perhaps in the space of a few days or weeks? Surely we should make our profiting to appear, to the honour of God, and to the confusion of all our enemies. Doubtless those who united not with Nehemiah would pour contempt upon his efforts, and deride him as a weak or wicked enthusiast. But is there a man in the universe that does not applaud him now? Thus must you expect to be derided now: but the day is coming, when God himself will applaud you before the assembled universe, and they who now condemn you will bitterly regret that they did not follow your steps.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
REFLECTIONS
MARK, my soul, the very different characters which distinguish men of the world from real lovers of God. Their features, manners, customs, pursuits, habits, pleasures, all differ. Whatever root of bitterness it is, I do not presume to say, but certain it is that there is a root of bitterness springing within them, both the blossom and the baleful deadly fruit appear in all their branches. But while these marks plainly testify whose they are, and in whose cause they are planted; how blessed is it to see that they can extend their luxuriancy no farther than the Lord allows. And how further blessed it is to see, that the Lord makes use of them medicinally to his people for good. Sanballat and Tobiah meant not so, neither did their heart intend it; but yet, in reality, all they did, and all their scoffs and oppositions, only tended to make Nehemiah more assiduous, and more earnest in his recourses to a mercy seat. Reader! when our enemies do this; when they drive us to a throne of grace, when otherwise we should not go there, surely the Lord, by his overruling wisdom converts their very evil into good, and compels them, contrary to their wishes and intent, to prove our kind friends.
Mark, my soul, in Nehemiah, the portrait of God’s children. While the Lord’s house lies waste, they take no pleasure. While Jesus and his people are oppressed, there is no joy in a gracious soul. See then, my soul, whether, like Nehemiah, thou art anxious for the prosperity of Zion? Can a throne of grace witness for thee, that thy petitions are lodged there for her welfare? Dust thou love her courts, her ordinances, her servants, her ministers, her people? Is the Lord himself precious to thee, and dearer than the golden wedge of Ophir? Oh! thou dear Redeemer! let thy name, thy person, thy work, thine offices, thy character, relations; all, all that belongs to Jesus, be as ointment poured forth. And oh! grant, my Lord, that I may be a sweet savor of Jesus, as Nehemiah, to all around.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Neh 2:20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Ver. 20. Then answered I them, and said unto them ] He would not honour them so far as to tell them of the king’s licence; but shapes them a sharp answer, and shakes them up as having nothing there to do. This was true Christian courage; this was right, and much better than railing for railing; for that were but lutum lute purgare, to wash off one dirt with another.
The God of heaven
He will prosper us
But ye have no portion
Nor right
Nor memorial
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The God: Neh 2:4, 2Ch 26:5, Psa 20:5, Psa 35:27, Psa 102:13, Psa 102:14, Psa 122:6, Ecc 7:18
ye have no: Ezr 4:3, Act 8:21
memorial: Exo 28:29, Lev 2:2, Lev 24:7, Num 10:10, Isa 56:5, Zec 6:14, Act 10:4, Act 10:31, When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David’s words, Psa 51:18, he did not sit still and say, “Let God now do his own work, for I have no more to do;” but set himself to do what he could towards it; and here we find that the people were of one heart with Nehemiah. Our prayers must be seconded with our serious endeavours, or else we mock God. Nearly four months had passed, namely, from Chisleu to Nisan – November to March before Nehemiah made his application to the king for leave to go to Jerusalem; either because the winter was not a proper time for such a journey, and he would not make a motion till he could pursue it, or because it was so long before his month of waiting upon the king came, and there was no coming into his presence until called for, Est 4:11. We are not thus limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty of access to him at all times; to the throne of grace we never come unseasonably.
Reciprocal: Gen 39:3 – prosper Exo 39:7 – a memorial Lev 26:9 – for I Jos 22:25 – ye have Isa 36:5 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor {k} memorial, in Jerusalem.
(k) Neither are you of the number of the children of God
(to whom he has appointed this city only) neither did any of your predecessors ever fear God.