Bible Commentary

But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 7. In most editions of the Hebrew Bible, this is the 1st verse of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:7”

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 6. So built we ] R.V. So we built. No emphasis on ‘we.’ unto the half thereof ] R.V. unto half the height thereof. ‘All the wall was joined together.’ The … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:6”

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders. 5. and cover not their iniquity ] i.e. forgive it not. Cf. Psa 85:2, ‘Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin’ i.e. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:5”

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: 4, 5. Nehemiah’s Soliloquy and Prayer. A parenthesis 4. This is the first of the parenthetical addresses to the Almighty, which are a characteristic feature of Nehemiah’s writing. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:4”

Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. 3. Even that which they build &c.] Whatever they are trying to build. a fox ] R.V. marg. ‘Or, jackal ’. The light tread of some creeping … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:3”

And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 2. And he spake before his brethren … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:2”

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. Ch. Neh 4:1-23 . The Opposition to the Work. ( a) 1 6. The ridicule of the Samaritans. ( b) 7 23. The menaces of the foe, and the precautions … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 4:1”

And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. 32. the going up, &c.] see Neh 3:31. unto the sheep gate ] R.V. and the sheep gate. This was the starting place of the description ( Neh 3:1). the goldsmiths ] see Neh 3:8-31. the merchants … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:32”

After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith’s son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner. 31. Malchiah the goldsmith’s son ] R.V. Malchijah one of the goldsmiths. See note on Neh 3:8. Malchiah belonged to the guild of the goldsmiths. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:31”

After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber. 30. Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, piece ] R.V. portion. This particular mention of Hanun as ‘the sixth son’ of Zalaph is noteworthy, since the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:30”