Nehemiah 4:7

7 But it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were set up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

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 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to the half of it, for the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were set up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

8 And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.