Nehemiah 4:9-23

Discouragement Overcome

9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we ¹set 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 ²stationed 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: "³Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and ⁴fight 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 ⁵God 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. ⁶Our 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.

Nehemiah 4:9-23 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 4:11
• 2. Nehemiah 4:17, 18
• 3. Numbers 14:9; Deuteronomy 1:29, 30
• 4. 2 Samuel 10:12
• 5. 2 Samuel 17:14
• 6. Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Judah said"
• [b]. Lit "dust"
• [c]. So Gr; Heb omits "they...up"
• [d]. Lit "bare"
• [e]. Lit "he who sounded the trumpet"
• [f]. Lit "assemble yourselves"
• [g]. Lit "rising of the dawn"
• [h]. Lit "came out"