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Nehemiah 4

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Work Is Ridiculed

1 Now it came about that when 1Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.
2 He spoke in the presence of his brothers and 2the wealthy men of Samaria and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the 3dusty rubble even the burned ones?"
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building -4if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
4 5Hear, O our God, how we are despised! 6Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
5 Do not 7forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before * You, for they have demoralized * the builders.
6 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry.
8 All of them 8conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.

Discouragement Overcome

9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we 9set up a guard against them day and night.
10 Thus in Judah it was said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable * To rebuild the wall."
11 Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until * we come among * them, kill them and put a stop to the work."
12 When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, "They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,"
13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I 10stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.
14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: "11Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and 12fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses."
15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that 13God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
16 From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.
17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.
18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter * stood near me.
19 I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another.
20 "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. 14Our God will fight for us."
21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn * until the stars appeared.
22 At that time I also said to the people, "Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day."
23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.
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Nehemiah 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Opposition of Sanballat and others. (1-6) The designs of the adversaries. (7-15) Nehemiah's precautions. (16-23)

Verses 1-6 Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unite in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but looked up to God by prayer. God's people have often been a despised people, but he hears all the slights that are put upon them, and it is their comfort that he does so. Nehemiah had reason to think that the hearts of those sinners were desperately hardened, else he would not have prayed that their sins might never be blotted out. Good work goes on well, when people have a mind to it. The reproaches of enemies should quicken us to our duty, not drive us from it.

Verses 7-15 The hindering good work is what bad men aim at, and promise themselves success in; but good work is God's work, and it shall prosper. God has many ways of bringing to light, and so of bringing to nought, the devices and designs of his church's enemies. If our enemies cannot frighten us from duty, or deceive us into sin, they cannot hurt us. Nehemiah put himself and his cause under the Divine protection. It was the way of this good man, and should be our way. All his cares, all his griefs, all his fears, he spread before God. Before he used any means, he made his prayer to God. Having prayed, he set a watch against the enemy. If we think to secure ourselves by prayer, without watchfulness, we are slothful, and tempt God; if by watchfulness, without prayer, we are proud, and slight God: either way, we forfeit his protection. God's care of our safety, should engage and encourage us to go on with vigour in our duty. As soon as a danger is over, let us return to our work, and trust God another time.

Verses 16-23 We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our labours, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true Christian is both a labourer and a soldier, working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go on with success, when those who labour in it, make a business of it. And Satan fears to assault the watchful Christian; or, if attacked, the Lord fights for him. Thus must we wait to the close of life, never putting off our armour till our work and warfare are ended; then we shall be welcomed to the rest and joy of our Lord.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 14

  • 1. Nehemiah 2:10
  • 2. Ezra 4:9, 10
  • 3. Nehemiah 4:10
  • 4. Lamentations 5:18
  • 5. Psalms 123:3, 4
  • 6. Psalms 79:12
  • 7. Psalms 69:27, 28; Jeremiah 18:23
  • 8. Psalms 83:3
  • 9. Nehemiah 4:11
  • 10. Nehemiah 4:17, 18
  • 11. Numbers 14:9; Deuteronomy 1:29, 30
  • 12. 2 Samuel 10:12
  • 13. 2 Samuel 17:14
  • 14. Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30

Footnotes 17

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 4

This chapter relates, how the Jews, while building, were mocked by their enemies, to which no answer was returned but by prayer to God, and they went on notwithstanding in their work, Ne 4:1-6 and how that their enemies conspired against them, to hinder them by force of arms, Ne 4:7-12 to oppose which, both spiritual and temporal weapons were made use of, so that the work was still carried on, Ne 4:13-23.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Nehemiah 4 Commentaries

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