Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
13. Therefore set I, &c.] Nehemiah’s action recorded in this verse was intended to meet the needs of the situation generally. ‘Therefore’ must not be limited in application to Neh 4:12. The difficulties which beset him on so many sides compelled him to suspend part of the building operations, and to employ some of his available men for purposes of defence.
in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places ] R.V. In the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, In the open places. The original in this passage is very obscure. The true meaning seems to be given by the R.V. Nehemiah stationed armed detachments under the cover of the wall, in the open spaces, where houses and buildings would not interfere with their movement.
The difficulties of the clause are occasioned by (1) the verb ‘I set’ without an object, although repeated with an object in the next clause: (2) the word rendered ‘the space’ (lit. ‘the place’); (3) the words ‘in the open places.’ The LXX. seems to have understood ‘sheltered places.’ Others explain of ‘places where the sun shone,’ i.e. where the glint of the soldiers’ armour would betray their presence and deter attack.
According to one bold conjecture we should render, ‘And I set the engines (or catapults) in the space behind the wall in well-protected positions.’
after their families ] Probably defending the portion of the wall upon which they were at work. This distribution of the defence among families guaranteed the discipline and organization and energy resulting from the strong clan feeling of the Semitic races. Many would thus be required merely to defend their own homes: cf. Neh 3:28.
swords spears bows ] the chief offensive weapons: swords for the hand-to-hand mele, spears as the enemy drew near, the bow and arrow for attack from the distance.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The lower places – The places where those within the walls had the least advantage of elevation, the naturally weak places, where an enemy was likely to make his attack.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
In the lower places behind the wall; to stand by and within the walls where they were lowest, and not yet raised to their due height, and therefore most liable to the enemys assault.
On the higher places; upon the tops of the walls where they were finished, and the towers which were built here and there upon the wall; whence they might shoot arrows or throw stones against their enemies, when they made their approaches.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall,…. Where the wall was lowest, and the enemy could more easily break it down, or get over it:
and on the higher places; where the wall was higher; or rather on the towers upon the walls, as the word signifies the tops of rocks, which are dry and smooth, see Eze 24:2.
I even set the people after their families; according to their rank, number, strength, and valour:
with their swords, their spears, and their bows; with weapons they could use both near, and at a distance.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) After their families.In allusion to the ambushes of Neh. 4:11, Nehemiah set families togetherbesides the appointed guards in the lower places, where the wall was not raised to the due height, that is, really, on the higher places, or rather, the bare places, whence enemies might be better seen. The lower were the bare places.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Set I Or, then I stationed, to wit, people, as is seen further on.
In the lower places Better, as the margin, from, or at, the lower parts of the place. That is, he stationed men at the lower parts of the city, where there was special danger and greater exposure.
Behind the wall To defend it, and prevent the enemy from entering the city at those points. The wall thus served as a fortification.
And on the higher places The and should be omitted, and the rest rendered in the exposed parts. This phrase is not, as the English version makes it, the opposite of the lower places, but relates to behind the wall. He stationed men behind the wall in the exposed places.
I even set This is a repetition of the first words of the verse, and followed immediately by the object of the verb.
The people All the inhabitants of the city. They were distributed into the various parts of the city, especially in the lower and more exposed parts, so that all the place was under guard.
After their families Rather, according to families. The people were distributed by family groups, so that the men that guarded any particular part of the wall had their families and kinsmen nearest them.
Swords spears bows These were not the only kinds of weapons with which they were provided. See Neh 4:16.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Nehemiah’s Takes Precautions And His Response Encourages The Builders And Balks The Enemy ( Neh 4:13-15 ).
Nehemiah’s response demonstrated his leadership abilities, and his firm practicality. He called on the builders to bring with them their weapons and demonstrated how they could set up a solid means of defence against surprise attacks. It was only then that he called them together and reminded them of the greatness of God, and of their responsibilities towards their families. His method clearly worked. The consequence was that when their adversaries realised that their plans were known, and learned that defences had been set up, they backed down from their intentions. It was one thing to carry out spasmodic surprise raids on groups of defenceless builders in Jerusalem which could be explained away. It was quite another to take on Jews who were fully armed, organised and ready to defend themselves, thus turning their raids into direct and deliberate warfare. Furthermore, while no mention is made of them, it is doubtful whether all Nehemiah’s escort had returned to Persia. The king would have expected him to retain a bodyguard. These would now be involved in any fighting, thus making any attack an attack on Persia itself.
Neh 4:13
‘Therefore I stationed (men) in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places. I stationed (there) the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.’
Here we have Nehemiah’s response to the suggestion that they should give up building the walls and seek safety outside Jerusalem. His wisdom is demonstrated by the fact that before he called the people in order to exhort them, he organised a solid means of defence which would give them something to have confidence in. It was only then that he exhorted them to resist.
His method was simply to demonstrate the possibility of resisting any attack, and to underline the fact that the half-constructed walls already provided a level of defence (‘he set them — behind the wall’). It need not mean that he organised defence right round the walls. That was not his purpose. His purpose was to demonstrate that if they came together as a unit they were strong enough to resist ‘surprise attacks’, which would no longer be a surprise because they were expected. He would know that messengers would arrive with the news when such attacks were imminent
The transitive verb ‘I stationed’ requires an object to be read in. This is quite a regular feature in the Old Testament. All would know that those whom he stationed were ‘men’, as he then goes on to demonstrate. These were fully armed with swords, spears and bows and stationed in the open spaces where there were no buildings, which would be the parts where the walls were lowest. The very gathering of men fully armed would act as a stimulant to the defenders. It reminded them that they were able to defend themselves, and they would gained courage from each other. They would no longer see themselves as a prey but as an army. Note how he gathered them ‘in their families’. The whole host were divided up into a number of fighting units based on family and tribal connection. It was a ‘gathering of the tribes’ as of old. This idea of ordinary people gathering with weapons in their tribes and sub-tribes in order to fulfil God’s purposes, in other words in preparation for a holy war, is rooted in Israel’s history. It would therefore uniquely arouse their religious zeal and patriotism, and make them one with the glories of their past history.
‘Swords and spears and bows.’ These were the kind of weapons all men would have available to them. In those days all men wore a sword for self-defence when they ventured out, and spears and bows would be used for hunting.
Neh 4:14
‘And I saw, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “Do not you be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
‘And I saw.’ He reviewed the troops which he had arrayed before the people, and in consequence rose up and spoke to the nobles, rulers and people giving them reassuring words. They were not to be afraid of anything that the enemy would try to do. Rather they were to remember Who and What God was, and that He was on their side. For God as great and terrible compare Neh 1:5; Dan 9:4; Exo 15:11; Deu 7:21; Deu 10:17.
As a consequence they were to be ready to defend themselves, fighting to establish the future for their loved ones and their possessions. For if Judah was to have any independent future Jerusalem had to be re-established. It was recognition of this fact that made their adversaries so fierce in their opposition. And it was recognition of this fact that should make them strong.
Neh 4:15
‘And it came about, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work.’
The news of his preparations for the defence of Jerusalem reached the ears of his enemies, and seemingly nipped in the bud their own preparations with the result that no attack ensued. As Nehemiah piously put it, and firmly believed, they were forced to recognise that God had brought their counsel to naught. God had heard the prayers of His people. An the people with him apparently saw it in the same way, for they returned to their working positions on the wall. The work went on unhindered.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 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.
Ver. 13. Therefore set I in the lower places ] I took them off their work, and appointed them to stand upon their guard; appointing them their stations, and giving them orders.
I even set the people after their families
With their swords, their spears, and their bows
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the lower places behind: or, the lowest parts of the space behind.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Triumph of Courage and Devotion
Neh 4:13-23
The work of rebuilding the ruins of Zion is typical of our efforts as Christians to counteract the deterioration which is ever at work in our own hearts, in the professing Church, and in society. No one who attempts this work will escape hostility, covert or manifested. That is a suggestive attitude pictured here; the girded sword, the spear in one hand, and the trowel in the other. So they wrought, with ear intent for the trumpet sound, ready for any emergency, and yet sure that God would fight for them. All the people of God should make common cause against a common foe. We stand or fall together, Neh 4:20. Our hands must be familiar with the sword against the attack of our spiritual enemies, and with the trowel to contribute our bit of work towards Gods building.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Therefore: Gen 32:13-20, 2Ch 32:2-8, Psa 112:5, Mat 10:16, 1Co 14:20
in the lower places: Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc. their swords. Neh 4:17, Neh 4:18, Son 3:7, Son 3:8, Eph 6:11-20
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 4:13. Therefore, in the lower places behind the wall Within the walls, where they were not yet raised to their due height, and therefore most liable to the enemies assault. On the higher places Upon the tops of the walls, where they were finished, and the towers which were built here and there upon the wall, whence they might shoot arrows, or throw stones.