Nehemiah 4 Study Notes

4:11-12 Another possible translation of the second half of v. 12 is, “they said to us repeatedly from all [their] places, ‘You must return to us,’” suggesting that the Jewish people outside Jerusalem were encouraging the workers from their towns laboring in Jerusalem to leave before the city was attacked.

4:13-14 Nehemiah’s skill as a leader is exemplified in these verses. Although enemies surrounded him and the people were discouraged, he took action.

4:15-17 As the work resumed, Nehemiah took precautions against a surprise attack. He divided the group he called my men (Hb ne‘aray; lit “my youths”), which may have been a militia that supported Nehemiah’s role as governor. Half of them joined in the work while the other half were on guard duty.

4:18-22 Because the defenders were spread so thinly around the city, Nehemiah had the trumpeter beside him, so they could concentrate their forces quickly in case of attack. Having everyone spend the night inside Jerusalem not only bolstered the defenses of the city but also kept the discouraged or the fearful from deserting during the night.

4:23 Nehemiah and his military entourage set the example for diligence in the face of danger: [we] never took off our clothes. Another possibility for understanding the final phrase of the verse is to read the last word of the Hebrew text (hammayim, “the water”) as “the right hand” (Hb hayyamin), making the phrase, “each his weapon in his right hand.” Nehemiah and his people in this chapter exemplify the Benedictine credo, (Lat) ora et labora (“pray and work”). They sought God’s blessing and his protection while working with the strength he gave them to accomplish the task for which they prayed.