Nehemiah 4:7

7 ^[a] When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious.

Nehemiah 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 4:7

And it came to pass that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the
Arabians
Who were under and influenced by Geshem the Arabian:

and the Ammonites;
over whom Tobiah was governor:

and the Ashdodites;
who were of Ashdod or Azotus, one of the principalities of the Philistines, who were always enemies to the Jews:

heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up;
or "the length of them went up" ^F4; that is, the height of them; that they rose up high apace, and were got up to, or almost to their proper height:

and that the breaches began to be stopped;
for the walls were not all thrown down by the Chaldeans, but breaches made here and there, which were now repaired:

then they were very wroth;
and could not avoid showing it; before they mocked them, as attempting what they could not go through with; but now, perceiving the work went on with great success, they were enraged.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (hkwra htle) "ascendisset longitudo", Montanus; so Coeceius in rad. (Kra) .

Nehemiah 4:7 In-Context

5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked the builders.

6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its [height], for the people had the will to keep working.

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious.

8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion.

9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

Footnotes

• [a]. Neh 4:1 in Hb