Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.
Verse 2. Make. Prot. “meet together.” Bible.—When the adversaries of faith find themselves unable to suppress it, they offer peace: so when Protestants began, and where they are still weak, they would have none persecuted for any opinions in religious matters; “but where they are strong they hardly grant toleration to Catholics.” Worthington.—This has been no where more observable than in these islands, where the spirit of persecution has not yet subsided, though banished from most other countries. See Dr. Milner’s 4th let. to a Preb. Debates in Parl. 1810, and so forth Bible.—Villages. Most of the Lat. editions, before Sixtus V. read, in vitulis in campo uno, ( Calmet.) “with sacrifices of calves in some one field.” Bible.—Perhaps Cephirim, ( Tirinus.) or copirim, “villages,” ( Bible.) may be the name of a place in the plain of Ono, ( Tirinus.) which is styled the valley of craftsmen, (Calmet. 11:35. Calmet.) in the tribe of Benjamin, near the Jordan. Adrichomius.—Mischief, by taking or killing. Menochius.
I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?”
Verse 3. You. This was one, ( Bible.) though not the principal reason which hindered him. It is often adviseable not to seem to suspect any evil.
They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.
Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
Verse 5–6. Letter. Hebrew Septuagint and Arab. add, “open:” but this word is not in Syriac. The letter might be an order to appear, or might be left open to signify that the bearer was a man of confidence, from whom Nehemias might receive any farther information; unless it was sent in this manner out of contempt.—Gossem, the Arabian governor. Calmet. 2:19. Calmet.
in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.
Verse 5–6. Letter. Hebrew Septuagint and Arab. add, “open:” but this word is not in Syriac. The letter might be an order to appear, or might be left open to signify that the bearer was a man of confidence, from whom Nehemias might receive any farther information; unless it was sent in this manner out of contempt.—Gossem, the Arabian governor. Calmet. 2:19. Calmet.
You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.”
Verse 7. Prophets. This was false; though, no doubt, the true prophets who lived at that time, would promote the laudable undertakings of Nehemias. Bible.—To counteract their influence, the enemies hired Semaia and Noadias, verse 10 and 14.—Together, that thou mayst clear thyself; (Vatab.) or that we may repress these rumors, lest the king should suspect us of any connivance. The first sense appears to be preferable. Nehemias did not take the information as a piece of civility. Calmet.—The enemies left it ambiguous, whether they would not join their forces with his, in case he meant to revolt. Menochius.
Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.
Verse 9. I. Hebrew “Now, O Lord, strengthen my hands; (Jun. and so forth) or, “now strengthening my hands, ( Calmet.) I went,” and so forth Septuagint and so forth agree with the Vulg. Bible.
I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you.”
Verse 10. Went, being invited. Tirinus.—Semaia, of the twenty-third course of priests. 1 Chronicles 24:18. Menochius.—Privately. Hebrew “who was shut up,” like a recluse, ( Bible.) to deceive the people, by the appearance of superior sanctity, and by an imitation of the true prophets. Calmet.—Some translate hatsur, “bound by vow,” (1 Kennicott. 21:7) to protect the governor; (Malvenda) but this seems too far-fetched. Calmet.
I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”
Verse 11. Should. Lit. “Does one like me retire from his post? And who like me shall enter the temple and live?” Bible.—It is unlawful for a layman to flee into the part of the temple assigned to the priests. Yet into this he had been invited, as the court of Israel was not perhaps yet secured. Those who suppose that Nehemias was a priest, say ( Calmet.) that he refused to flee, lest he should intimidate the people by his cowardly departure. Tirinus. Menochius.—Semaia might also have a design upon his life, when they should be alone.
I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
Verse 12. Understood, by the nature of the suggestion, and the manner in which he heard the refusal. Aggeus, or some of the true prophets, might also inform him, ( Calmet.) or a supernatural light irradiated his mind, unless human sagacity sufficed. Tirinus. Menochius.
He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Verse 13. Sin, by taking any false step, so as to offend the people.
“Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.”
Verse 14. Prophet. Hebrew “the prophetess.” Calmet.—Prot. “My God, think thou upon Tobiah, … and on the prophetess Noadiah.”
So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Verse 15. Elul, the last of the civil year, corresponding with our August and September, when the walls were dedicated. Calmet. 12:27.—Days. Josephus (xi. 5.) says, “two years and three (Greek four) months” ( Bible.) had been spent in perfecting the work. Cajet.—Others date from the reception of the letter, verse 5. Vatab.—But the work only lasted the time here specified, as the materials were at hand, and some of the walls were standing, while the rocks defended other parts; and the city was not then so large as it was afterwards. Calmet.—The whole people wrought almost day and night, and Nehemias encouraged them with all his power. Tirinus.—Thus Alexander the Great built the walls of New Alexandria, on the Tanais, 60 stadia, or near 6000 paces ( Calmet.) long, in less than twenty days; ( Tirinus.) and Cæsar perfected other works, before Alise, and so forth with equal expedition. Bel. Galatians 1. and vii.—The Romans, at the last siege of Jerusalem, surrounded the city with a wall 5000 paces long, and with thirteen towers, in three days. Jos. Bel. vi. 13. Calmet.
When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.
For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
Verse 18. Mosollam, one of the builders. Calmet. 3:4. Menochius.—These two powerful men had consequently acted contrary to the laws of God, and the covenant of Esdras, with respect to marriages. They might fear the resentment of the zealous governor. Dangers from false brethren, (2 Corinthians 11:26) wars without, and fears within, generally assail the servants of God. Bible.
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.