Nehemiahchapter 4

A.Sanballat's mockery, and a people with a mind to workvv. 1-6

1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews 2 before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!” 4 Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders. 6 So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

B.Set a watch: remember the Lord, great and terriblevv. 7-14

7 When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious, 8 and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance. 9 So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night. 10 Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 13 So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said 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 and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

C.One hand to the work, the other holding a weaponvv. 15-23

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” 21 So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

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Chapter summary

Ridicule first.

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Ridicule first. 'What are these feeble Jews doing?' asks Sanballat, and Tobiah adds that a fox going up would break down their stone wall. Nehemiah prays, and the wall rises to half its height, 'for the people had a mind to work.' When mockery fails, conspiracy follows. So 'we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night.' Judah complains that the strength of the burden-bearers is decayed and there is much rubbish. Nehemiah answers, 'Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible.' From that day half held spears while half wrought, every builder with his sword girded at his side: 'our God will fight for us.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Nehemiah — Nehemiah overview

A. 1–6 Sanballat's mockery, and a people with a mind to work
B. 7–14 Set a watch: remember the Lord, great and terrible
C. 15–23 One hand to the work, the other holding a weapon

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Nehemiah 43 verses
- Nehemiah 4:1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
- Nehemiah 4:17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
- Nehemiah 4:23So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
- Read Nehemiah 4 →
Nehemiah 22 verses
- Nehemiah 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
- Nehemiah 2:19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
- Read Nehemiah 2 →
1 Kings 202 verses
- 1 Kings 20:10Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
- 1 Kings 20:18“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
- Read 1 Kings 20 →
2 Samuel 172 verses
- 2 Samuel 17:2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
- 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- Read 2 Samuel 17 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Numbers 142 verses
- Numbers 14:9Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”
- Numbers 14:22not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times—
- Read Numbers 14 →
Nehemiah 52 verses
- Nehemiah 5:15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.
- Nehemiah 5:16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
- Read Nehemiah 5 →
Acts 231 verse
- Acts 23:12When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- Read Acts 23 →
Hebrews 111 verse
- Hebrews 11:36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Read Hebrews 11 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.