Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
10. And Judah said ] i.e. the Jewish community speaking, by their rulers or representatives, to Nehemiah.
The strength of the bearers of burdens, &c.] Literally ‘the strength of the bearer of burdens, &c.,’ referring to the whole class of the working population. The LXX. wrongly .
so that we are not able, &c.] The complaint here described seems to be introduced at this point to show the variety of obstacles to the work. Besides the direct hostility of the Samaritans, the Jews themselves declared their strength to be giving way before the fatigue. The task of clearing away the accumulated rubbish before building the walls had exhausted their patience and their powers. It is not necessary to regard this declaration as mutinous. It was occasioned by the pressure felt by the whole community in consequence of the continuous labour upon the wall. There was no reserve to fall back upon in case of a sudden alarm. To Nehemiah at such a crisis the complaint must have greatly added to the difficulties of the moment. It had all the tone of disaffection, and reminded him that in the face of a hostile foe he could place little confidence either in the power or in the willingness of the Jewish citizens to defend themselves.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed] They worked both day and night, scarcely ever putting off their clothes, except for the purpose of being washed, Ne 4:21; Ne 4:23.
Much rubbish] The ruins they were obliged to clear away, before they could dig the foundation for a new wall: and in this labour they were nearly exhausted; see Ne 5:15.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And Judah said, i.e. the Jews now dwelling in Judah, to wit, some of them, being partly terrified by their enemies, and partly wearied with hard and continual labours.
There is much rubbish; more than we are able suddenly to remove.
We are not able to build the wall; being forced to spend our time in removing the rubbish, and other works imposed upon us; and therefore we must desist at least for a season.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Judah said,…. Several of the men of Judah:
the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed; through much labour, in carrying heavy loads of stone and timber to the builders, and yet more through fear of the enemy:
and there is much rubbish; which ought to be removed, but that the labourers were so weak that they could not do it:
so that we are not able to build the wall; to finish it before the enemy comes to attack us.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4:4)
The placing of the watch day and night, and the continuous labour, must have pressed heavily upon the people; therefore Judah said: “The strength of the bearers of burdens fails, and there is much rubbish; we are not able to build the wall.” That is to say, the labour is beyond our power, we cannot continue it.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
More Discouragement, Verses 10-23
The indication of verse 10 is that the people of Judah were collectively becoming affected by the campaigns of their enemies against them. Some of the same old ridicule became the subject of their protests, that the job was just too great for them, and they might as well give up the effort. Then, too, a rumor was spreading that the enemy army would strike them unexpectedly, kill some, and put a stop to the building. And the Jews who lived adjacent to the enemies brought reports having heard that the enemies planned to cut off all places to which they might escape. The Devil was putting forth his most cunning tricks, attacking from within the ranks of the builders themselves to sow discord and doubt.
Nehemiah refused to be defeated, and his stand kept most of the people ready to support him. He took representatives from each of the families of the workmen and stationed them around the wall to prevent a surprise attack. On the higher places there were lookouts, and in the lower places armed men to prevent an incursion. They were armed with swords, spears, and bows. He also made a speech of exhortation to the nobles and rulers of the Jews, along with all the people, admonishing them to have no fear, assuring them of the great and terrible power of the Lord who was ready to help them. They should boldly fight for families and homes. It was a lengthy Old Testament application of the admonition of the Apostle Peter, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Pe 5:8).
The bold determination and opposition of the Jews paid off. The enemies learned that the Jews had discovered their plans. There could be no surprise attack, so they discontinued their plan and took another tack.
The workmen returned to the walls, but Nehemiah did not discontinue his vigilance against the opposition. Thereafter he engaged half his men in building the wall and the other half he armed with spears, shields, bows, and habergeons (breastplates). The rulers of the Jews stood with Nehemiah behind the people to keep up their courage for the work.
Every precaution was taken, with the workmen each being armed with a sword at his side and a work implement in his hand. Nehemiah kept the trumpeter with him so he could order him to sound an alarm if such should be required. To the captains of the people Nehemiah explained his plan. The work was great and large, the people were widely scattered around the wall; therefore, when they heard the sound the trumpet they should rally to defend themselves against the attack. He reminded them that God would fight for them. Compare the admonition of Paul to the Christian in his warfare (Eph 6:10-11).
The Jewish laborers worked long days, from the rising of the sun in the morning to the appearance of the stars at night. As an extra precaution, and probably as an expedient of time as well, Nehemiah requested those who lived outside Jerusalem to remain overnight in the city. So everyone, laborer, servant, ruler, Nehemiah himself, all slept in their clothes, never taking them off except to launder them. Their steadfast tenacity and dependence on the Lord must gain them the victory.
From chapter four there are many good lessons, some of which are: 1) Zealous Christian workers can expect ridicule from the world; 2) prayer and faithfulness will get the Lord’s work done; 3) the power of evil is very great, but it can be overcome in the Lord; 4) great danger exists when the Devil is able to infiltrate the ranks of God’s people; 5) one confident, determined leader can influence all to persevere; 6) the need for vigilance in the cause of Christ is never ended.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(10) And Judah said.As hereafter, in the case of the complaints of the people (Nehemiah 5), the writer gives a summary of difficulties. The Jews, or Judaha significant termcomplained of their growing feebleness, especially as so many were diverted to the watches.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Judah said By his representatives, heads of the tribe of Judah.
The strength is decayed They are worn-out and exhausted by excessive toil.
Much rubbish This had been accumulating for more than a hundred years, and in some places presented to the builders insuperable difficulties.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Three Attitudes Which Nehemiah Had To Contend With ( Neh 4:10-12 ).
Nehemiah’s firm response is now set against the background of three attitudes which were in danger of halting the work. The first was the growth of discouragement among the builders as they considered the task in hand (and Judah said’ -verse 10); the second was the intention of their adversaries to make a number of surprise murderous attacks on the builders, which no doubt became known to them (‘and our adversaries said’ – Neh 4:11); and the third was the feeding of the discouragement by their fellow-Jews who had not been willing to involve themselves in the work (‘the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said’ – Neh 4:12). They were beset with doubts from all sides.
Neh 4:10
‘And Judah said,
“The strength of the burden-bearers is failing,
And there is much rubble,
In consequence we are not able,
To build the wall.”
That the activities of Sanballat and his allies, together with the difficulties being faced, were undoubtedly beginning to have an effect on the morale of many of the men of Judah comes out in a song that began to be spread among the builders and their families which expressed their feelings. It was a song of hopelessness. Things were getting too much for them. Their strength was failing because of the enormity of the tasks. They were finding things too much for them. The obstacles were enormous. So much rubble still had to be removed. As a consequence they were beginning themselves to doubt their ability to complete the building of the wall.
Neh 4:11
‘And our adversaries said, “They will not know, nor see, till we come into their midst, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.”
Meanwhile their adversaries were planning to increase their discouragement by surprise, unexpected attacks, with murderous bands arriving suddenly among them causing havoc and death. Their whole aim was to make the work to cease in the light of what they had learned concerning the morale of the builders (the song would have become common knowledge).
Neh 4:12
‘And it came about that, when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times from all sides, “You must return to us.”
Meanwhile their fellow-Jews, presumably some who had not been willing to involve themselves in the work, repeatedly (‘ten times’) said to them on all sides, ‘give up and come back to your normal lives among us’. The temptation must have been enormous. There was a clear recognition that any violence would only be carried out against the builders in Jerusalem. Any who disentangled themselves from them would be safe.
‘Said to us ten times.’ Compare a similar use of ‘ten times’ in Gen 31:41, ‘you have changed my wages ten times’. Compare also Dan 1:12. It is clear that here it is not intended to be taken literally. It simply means ‘a number of times’.
It is apparent therefore that there was a great danger that the work would grind to halt with the walls still unfinished, and Jerusalem still a prey to marauders. It was then that Nehemiah stepped into the breach and persuaded them to carry on in the face of all the obstacles because God was with them, bolstering his arguments by organising their defences against incursions so that they could see that there was hope even if they remained in Jerusalem in order to complete the work.
It should be noted that Neh 4:12 in the Hebrew is clearly connected with Neh 4:13. Thus Nehemiah’s response is linked with, and contrasted with, the attitude of their fellow-Jews (something which our division of the verses hides). On the one hand their fellow-Jews said, ‘you may as well give up and join us in a place of safety’, and on the other Nehemiah acted vigorously in order to ensure that they were encouraged and did not.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 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.
Ver. 10. And Judah said ] Here was , impedimenti domestici; aliud ex alio malum, a worse discouragement than the former. Judah (the chief labourers) begins to murmur and mutiny, to faint and fall off. A perilous practice in such a dangerous time, and enough to have undone all; as one coward in an army, breaking the array and running away, may set the rest a running, and the day be thereby lost. Lo, this was Judah, whose escutcheon was a lion; but here unlike himself.
The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed
So that we are not able
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 4:10-14
10Thus in Judah it was said,
The strength of the burden bearers is failing,
Yet there is much rubbish;
And we ourselves are unable
To rebuild the wall.
11Our enemies said, They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work. 12When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, They will come up against us from every place where you may turn, 13then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. 14When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.
Neh 4:10 This is possibly a song that the laborers sang while doing their work, but it shows the effect that the threats of the surrounding enemies were having on the Jewish laborers.
Neh 4:11 This was the threat of a surprise attack.
Neh 4:12 told us ten times This also shows the degree of fear in the Jewish population. The phrase ten times seems to be used quite often in the OT for intensity (cf. Gen 31:7; Num 14:22; Job 19:3).
they will come up against us from every place where you may turn This may be an allusion to Neh 4:7 in that the enemies listed were from different compass directions (cf. note at Neh 4:7). It implies a coordinated attack by all these groups.
The notes of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, p. 1436, suggests every scheme, which involves a textual emendation. They also suggest that the next to last word of the sentence you turn should be emended to they were plotting (cf. NET Bible, p. 729).
Neh 4:13
NASBthe exposed places
NKJVat the openings
NRSVin open places
TEVwhere it was unfinished
NJBat the point where it was lowest
The term (BDB 850) is uncertain. The usual meaning is shining, glaring, surface, but here that does not fit, unless one adopts NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 796, where it describes this place as barren due to exposure to the sun. Brown, Driver, and Briggs suggest in glaring, bare places (cf. JPSOA translation). At times like this we must remember the hermeneutical maxim, context determines meaning. Therefore, I think NASB and NJB have the best option. Not openings in the wall, but low places where the enemy could see behind the wall and attempt to ascertain troop strength and location.
Another possibility is that the villagers is that the villagers surrounding Jerusalem had been intimidated (cf. Neh 4:12) so the workers from these areas brought their families into Jerusalem. Nehemiah settled them in the bare areas. If this is true this text does not refer to soldiers attempting to show the strength of their numbers, but the location of the resettled villagers. Nehemiah positioned his troops so that they could be easily seen by the surrounding enemies who were looking from the high points outside the walls.
Neh 4:14 remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers Notice the dual (covenant) emphases of trust in God and the preparation for battle! This is exactly the truth also expressed in Neh 4:19-20.
This description of God occurs many times in the OT and several times in Nehemiah (cf. Neh 1:5; Neh 4:14; Neh 9:32). See note at Neh 1:5.
‘Do not be afraid of them’ This VERB (BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense) is used often by God or those who speak for Him to reassure His people of His presence and power against their enemies (e.g., Gen 15:1; Gen 26:24; Gen 46:3; Exo 14:13; Num 14:19; Num 21:34; Deu 1:21; Deu 1:29; Deu 3:2; Deu 3:22; Deu 7:18; Deu 20:1; Deu 20:3; Jos 8:1; Jos 10:2; Jos 10:25).
This same root (BDB 431) is used in describing God as awesome (cf. Neh 1:5; Neh 4:14; Neh 9:32). Therefore, appropriate fear/respect is due God, but those who serve Him should not have fear or respect for those who attack them and their God.
remember the Lord The VERB (BDB 431, KB 422) is a Qal IMPERATIVE.
fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses The VERB (BDB 269, KB 269) is a Qal IMPERATIVE. Although God is not specifically mentioned He is surely implied (cf. 2Sa 10:12).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
are not = shall not.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
The strength: Num 13:31, Num 32:9, Psa 11:1, Psa 11:2, Hag 1:2
bearers: 2Ch 2:18, Eze 29:18
Reciprocal: 2Ch 34:13 – the bearers Neh 4:2 – revive Neh 4:17 – bare burdens Neh 6:9 – For they Psa 102:14 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 4:10. And Judah said That is, the Jews now dwelling in Judah; to wit, some of them, being partly terrified by their enemies, and partly wearied with continual labour: the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed The labourers have wrought so long and so hard that they are quite spent; and there is much rubbish More than we are able soon to remove: so that we are not able to build the wall Being forced to spend our time in removing the rubbish, and therefore we must desist for a season. Can Judah, that warlike, valiant tribe, speak thus? Active, leading men, have many times as much to do to grapple with the fears of their friends as with the terrors of their enemies.