Bible Commentary

They which built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon. 17. They which builded on the wall ] R.V. They that builded the wall. The Hebrew preposition rendered ‘on’ in the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:17”

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. 16. the half of my servants wrought in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:16”

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. 15. Success of Nehemiah’s precautions. our enemies ] a different word in the original from that rendered ‘adversaries’ … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:15”

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. 14. And I looked, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:14”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:13”

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]. 12. The translation of the last clause of this verse presents a great difficulty, and leaves us doubtful with what intention … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:12”

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. 11. our adversaries said ] ‘adversaries,’ cf. Ezr 4:1. After mentioning the source of weakness within the walls, Nehemiah describes the danger from without. ‘Said.’ He gives, as … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:11”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:10”

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 9. Nevertheless ] R.V. But. The simple copula in the original introduces the contrast between the plan of the enemy and the defensive measures adopted by the Jews. ‘Nevertheless’ is too strong an adversative. The … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:9”

And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 8. and conspired all of them ] R.V. and they conspired all of them. R.V. makes a stronger pause at the close of Neh 4:7, substituting a semicolon for the comma. ‘Conspired.’ The word here used is the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:8”