Nehemiah 6:16

16 When our enemies heard of this, all of the nations surrounding us were afraid and {lost their confidence}. They knew that this work had been done with [the help of] our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 6:16

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof,
&c.] That the wall was finished:

and all the Heathen that were about us saw these things;
the neighbouring nations, who not only heard with their ears, but saw with their eyes what was done:

they were much cast down in their own eyes;
through shame and confusion, because of their own scoffs and jeers; through grief and vexation at the unexpected success of the Jews, and through the fear of them that was fallen upon them, as Jarchi notes:

for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God;
his special providence and blessing attending it, as appeared by its being so soon effected.

Nehemiah 6:16 In-Context

14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to their works, and also Noadiah the prophetess, and the remainder of the prophets who were frightening me.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

16 When our enemies heard of this, all of the nations surrounding us were afraid and {lost their confidence}. They knew that this work had been done with [the help of] our God.

17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah increasingly sent their letters to Tobiah, and [letters] from Tobiah returned to them.

18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah. His son Jehohanan took as a wife the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "fell much in their eyes"