Nehemiah 4:7

Opposition Stopped

7 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem were going forward and the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

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, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before you. They have {provoked the builders to anger}.

6 So we rebuilt the wall, and all of the wall was joined up to half [its height]. For the people had a heart to do [it].

7 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem were going forward and the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

8 So all of them plotted together to come fight against Jerusalem and to make trouble for it.

9 So we prayed to our God and set up a guard against them day and night.