Nehemiah 4:5

Verse 5. Face. Punish the obstinate. Tirinus.—He does not wish that they may continue impenitent. Calmet.—But, on that supposition, he approves of the divine justice, and foretells what will happen. E.—Revenge was equally criminal under the old law, as it is at present. But the servants of God express their approbation ( Calmet.) of his inscrutable counsels. The imperative in Hebrew is often used for the future tense. Bible.—Mocked. Prot. “provoked thee … before the builders.” Septuagint omit most of this and the following verses; having only, “Do not hide thyself, with respect to wickedness.” Bible.