Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:21
So we labored in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
21. So we laboured ] R.V. So we wrought. The word in the original being the same as that rendered ‘wrought’ in Neh 4:16-17, it is best to adhere to the same English equivalent. ‘We:’ the pronoun is emphatic, i.e. I and my servants. The verse refers to Nehemiah and his men alone, as is shown by the mention of ‘half of them.’ It continues the narrative from Neh 4:18. Neh 4:19-20 are parenthetical.
half of them held the spears ] That is to say, Nehemiah’s bodyguard was divided into two companies, who alternately worked at the wall and mounted guard, holding the weapons of their comrades in readiness.
till the stars appeared ] literally ‘till the going forth of the stars.’ The word is familiar to us from such passages as Gen 19:23, ‘The sun was risen (lit. gone forth) upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar’. Psa 19:6, ‘His (the sun’s) going forth is from the end of heaven.’ The stars come forth from their ‘chambers’ (Job 9:9).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Working very early and very late.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So we laboured in the work,…. Of building the wall: and half of them held the spears; and other weapons before mentioned, Ne 4:16
from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared; that is, from morning to evening, the space of time the builders and labourers worked.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(21) So we laboured.This is a general recapitulation, with additional note of the length of the days work during this pressing season.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Half of them held the spears This confirms our view of Neh 4:16, that half stood on guard, with arms ready for the use of all, while the other half worked. They, doubtless, relieved each other by turns.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 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.
Ver. 21. So we laboured in the work ] Their fear of the enemy did not weaken them, but waken them rather to a redoubled diligence.
From the rising of the sun till the stars appeared
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 4:21-23
21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. 22At that time I also said to the people, Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day. 23So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.
Neh 4:21 spears This was a prized weapon during the United Monarchy, but during the Post exilic period it was the standard weapon of choice. It was not used as a thrown (i.e., javelin, which was shorter and lighter) weapon but as a thrusting weapon. It is linked with sword and bow in Neh 4:13; Neh 4:16, but stands alone here as the basic weapon.
Neh 4:22 No one went home. They worked and slept at the wall.
Neh 4:23
NASBeach took his weapon even to the water
NKJVexcept that everyone took them off for washing
NRSVeach kept his weapon in his right hand
TEVwe all kept our weapons at hand
NJBeach one kept his spear in his right hand
The Hebrew literally is each, his weapon, the waters. The translations which use right hand (NRSV, TEV, NJB) require a textual emendation.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. Why were the surrounding Persian governmental entities so against the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem?
2. How are Neh 4:9; Neh 4:14; Neh 4:20 to be interpreted, and what does it mean for our walk of faith?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Neh 4:21-23
Neh 4:21-23
WORKED DAY AND NIGHT; EVEN SLEPT IN THEIR CLOTHES
“So we wrought in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time I said unto the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that at night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. So neither I nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor my men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone went with his weapon to the water.”
“Half of them held the spears … till the stars appeared” (Neh 4:21). “These three verses are a summary of what was said above. Half of the servants and the guard worked in the daytime, and the other half stood guard at night.” Note also that the work continued without intermission throughout all the daylight hours.
“Let everyone … lodge within Jerusalem” (Neh 4:22). “This means let none return to his own village or city at night, but let all take their rest in Jerusalem.”
“Everyone went with his weapon to the water” (Neh 4:23). All scholars speak of the damaged text in this verse. “As it stands, it is quite meaningless.” The footnote in our version (the ASV) reads, “The text is obscure.” “Keil translated it, `Each laid his weapon at the right,’ that is, when he slept, his weapon was ready at hand.”
Various translations are:
“None of us put off our clothes, saving that everyone put them of for washing” (KJV).
“(We) did not put off our clothes; only every man stripped himself when he was to be washed” (Douay).
“Each kept his weapon in his hand” (Moffatt).
“We all kept our weapons at hand” (Good News Bible).
“Each kept his weapon in his hand” (Revised Standard Version).
“Each kept his weapon in his right hand” (New Revised Standard Version).
E.M. Zerr:
Neh 4:21. The spears were already mentioned in Neh 4:16. The added detail is given here as to the hours put in at the work. They were from daylight to full darkness. There was no such thing as “overtime” on that project.
Neh 4:22. When active duties had subsided on account of the nightfall, there was still the necessity for the presence of the servants to act as guards. There never was a time when they could be said to be free from danger of the enemy. That is the same lesson that is taught in 1Pe 5:8.
Neh 4:23. The emergency created by the necessity of washing their clothes is what was referred to at Neh 3:23. See the comments at that place.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
So we: 1Co 15:10, 1Co 15:58, Gal 6:9, Col 1:29
Reciprocal: Son 3:8 – because
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 4:21-22. Half of them held the spears For the use of every man, if there should be occasion. From the rising of the morning till the stars appeared Working very early and very late. Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem Not in the suburbs or adjoining villages, as probably many of them had done, returning thence to their work in the morning: but now he would have them all lodge in Jerusalem, for the greater security of the city; and in turns to watch by night, or work on the walls by day.