_A.M. 3559. B.C. 445._ Nehemiah's answer to his enemies, courting him to an interview, Nehemiah 6:1. To their charge of rebellion, Nehemiah 6:5. To Shemaiah's false prophecy, Nehemiah 6:10. Nothwithstanding the treachery of some of the nobles, the work is finished, _Neh 6:15-19_... [ Continue Reading ]
_ I had not set up the doors_ Not all of them. _Come, let us meet together_ To consult about the common service of our master the king of Persia, or to make a friendly accommodation. _In one of the villages in the plain of Ono_ A city in the tribe of Benjamin, of which see Nehemiah 11:35; 1 Chronicl... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am doing a great work_ He acquainted them that he thought the business which they might have with him could not be of such importance as that which he had in hand; and therefore he would not put a stop to it to come and confer with them. Thus he tells them one, but not the only, nor the principal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort_ We must never be overcome by the greatest importunity to do any thing ill or imprudent: but when we are attacked with the same temptation, still resist it with the same reason and resolution.... [ Continue Reading ]
_With an open letter in his hand_ Before, the message was delivered by word of mouth, but now by letter; yet _open_, as speaking of a thing commonly known, or in order that every one might see of what he was accused. _It is reported among the heathen_ The neighbouring people, whom you proudly and di... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saying, There is a king in Judah_ We have now a king of our own nation, and are free from the bondage of a foreign yoke. _Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together_ That we may impartially examine the matter, that thy innocence may be cleared.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For they all made us afraid_ That is, they endeavoured to do so, and actually did terrify some persons. _Now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands_ It is a great relief to good people, that in all their straits and difficulties they can have recourse to God, and by faith and prayer derive from him... [ Continue Reading ]
_I came into the house of Shemaiah_ Who was a pretended prophet, as appears from Nehemiah 6:12, and taken by Nehemiah for his friend, who therefore went to advise and consult with him at his house. _Who was shut up_ In his chamber adjoining to the temple, either upon pretence of singular devotion an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should such a man as I flee?_ I, who am governor, and ought to show a good example of undaunted courage? I, upon whose presence, counsel, and conduct, the very life and being of the whole city and nation, in a great measure, depend? I, who have professed such resolution and confidence in God, and h... [ Continue Reading ]
_I perceived that God had not sent him_ Partly by considering the sinful nature and pernicious consequences of this counsel; partly by the suggestion of God's Spirit, whose direction I sought in this matter; and partly by the event, which manifested that there was no such danger from the approach of... [ Continue Reading ]
_That I should be afraid, and do so, and sin_ By going into a place forbidden to me, and that in such a manner, which would have been both sinful and shameful. _That they might reproach me_ As a coward, and conscious of my own guilt, that they might make me contemptible and odious, both to my own pe... [ Continue Reading ]
_My God, think thou upon Tobiah_, &c. Thou knowest their hearts, and art the avenger of falsehood and wrong; take cognizance of this cause, judge between me and them, and take what way and time thou pleasest to call them to an account for their actions. This prayer we are not to imitate; and whateve... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul_ Answering part to our August and part to September. _In fifty and two days_ To be computed either from the time of Sanballat's sending this letter to him, or, as most judge, from the beginning of the work, which, though a great th... [ Continue Reading ]
_They were much cast down in their own eyes_ That is, in their opinion, or themselves being judges. For though usually men are very prone to judge partially, and still to flatter themselves with vain hopes, yet this case was so clear and remarkable that they began to despair. Now they saw that all w... [ Continue Reading ]
_The nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah_ Corresponding with him against Nehemiah, and against their own city and nation. So that, added to all the other wickedness of this people, there were false brethren among their great men, who favoured, aided, and abetted the designs of their enemie... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also, they reported his good deeds before me_ To such a degree of impudence were they arrived, that they highly commended Tobiah as a very worthy man in the presence of Nehemiah, who knew so much of his wickedness. _And uttered my words to him_ Informed him of all I spake or did. We learn from the... [ Continue Reading ]