Neh 4 | TSK | STEP | While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work. Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch. He arms the labourers; and gives military precepts. Sanballat. mocked.

for the people.The original is very emphatic, {wyhee laiv lëâm läâsoth,} "for the people had a heart to work." Their heart was engaged in it, and they went about it cheerfully and vigorously.

had a mind.

6:15; 1Ch 29:3,14,17,18; 2Ch 29:36; Ps 110:3; 2Co 8:16,17

Php 2:13; Heb 13:21

Sanballat.

1; 2:10,19

the Ammonites.

Jud 10:7-18; 11:12-40; 1Sa 11:2; 2Sa 10:1-5; 2Ki 24:2; 2Ch 20:1

Eze 25:3-7; Am 1:13

Ashdodites.

13:23,24; 1Sa 5:1,2; 2Ch 26:6-8; Jer 25:20; Am 1:8; 3:9; Zec 9:5,6

heard.

Ezr 4:4-16; 5:8

were made up. Heb. ascended. then.

Ge 3:15; Ac 4:17,18; 5:33; Re 12:12,13,17

all.

Ps 2:1-3; 83:3-11; Isa 8:9,10; Ac 23:12,13

hinder it. Heb. make an error to it.

Jer 20:10

Nevertheless.

11; Ge 32:9-12,28; 2Ki 19:14-19; Ps 50:15; 55:16-22; Lu 6:11,12

Ac 4:24-30

set a watch.

Mt 26:41; Lu 21:36; 1Pe 5:8

The strength.

Nu 13:31; 32:9; Ps 11:1,2; Hag 1:2

bearers.

2Ch 2:18; Eze 29:18

They shall not.

Jud 20:29-48; 2Sa 17:2; Ps 56:6; Isa 47:11; Ac 23:12,21; 1Th 5:2

ten times.

Ge 31:7,41; Nu 14:22; Job 19:3

From all places, etc. or, That from all places ye mustreturn to us. ye shall return. Houbigant, Michaelis, and Dathe contend, that instead of {tashoovoo,} "ye shall return," we should read {chashevoo,} "they designed."

Therefore.

Ge 32:13-20; 2Ch 32:2-8; Ps 112:5; Mt 10:16; 1Co 14:20

in the lower places. Heb. from the lower parts of the place,etc. their swords.

17,18; So 3:7,8; Eph 6:11-20

Be ye not afraid.

Nu 14:9; De 1:21,29,30; 20:3,4; Jos 1:9; 2Ch 20:15-17; 32:7

Ps 27:1; 46:11; Isa 41:10-14; Mt 10:28; Heb 13:6

remember.

Ps 20:7; 77:10-20; 143:5; Isa 51:12,13; 63:11-13

great.

1:5; De 10:17; Job 37:22; Ps 65:5; 66:3,5; Isa 64:1-3; Na 1:2-7

Heb 12:20,21,28,29

fight.

2Sa 10:12

God.

2Sa 15:31; 17:14; Job 5:12,13; Ps 33:10,11; Pr 21:30; Isa 8:10

Isa 44:25; La 3:37,38; 1Co 3:19,20

every one.

Mr 13:34; Ro 12:11; 1Th 4:11

my servants.

23; 5:15,16; Ps 101:6

and the other half.This is no unusual thing in Palestine, even at the present day; people sowing their seed are often attended by armed men, to prevent the Arabs from robbing them of it.

habergeons.{Habergeon,} from the Teutonic {hals,} the neck, and {bergen,} to cover, defend, may be considered as signifying a breast-plate, though the Franco-Gallic {hautbergon} signifies a coat of mail; the original {shiryon,} we have already seen, denotes a corslet.

bare burdens.

every one.That is, he had his arms at hand; and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. The builders could not possibly have made any progress, if they had literally held a weapon in one of their hands; but the expression is evidently figurative, implying that every man was a much a soldier as a builder.

with one.

Da 9:25; 1Co 9:12; 16:9,13; 2Co 6:7; Eph 6:11-20; Php 1:28; 2Ti 2:3

2Ti 4:7

by his side. Heb. on his loins. he that sounded.

Nu 10:9; 2Ch 13:12-17

our God.

Ex 14:14,25; De 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Jos 23:10; Zec 14:3

So we.

1Co 15:10,58; Ga 6:9; Col 1:29

every one.

11:1,2

So neither I.

5:16; 7:2; Jud 9:48; 1Co 15:10

saving that, etc. or, every one went with his weapon forwater.

Jud 5:11The original of this obscure clause is {ish shilcho hammayim,} which is rendered by Montanus, {vir missile suum aquas,} "a man his dart to the waters," of which it is difficult to make sense. It is wholly omitted by the LXX.; and one of De Rossi's MSS. reads, {meshallachah âl hammayim,} "in order to send them to the water."