Nehemiah 4:6

_SO BUILT WE THE WALL; AND ALL THE WALL WAS JOINED TOGETHER UNTO THE HALF THEREOF: FOR THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK._ All the wall was joined together unto the half thereof. The whole circuit of the wall had been distributed in sections to various companies of the people, and was completed to the half of the intended height....

1-6 Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unite in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but looked up to God by prayer. God's people have often been a despised people, but he hears all the slights that are put upon them, and it is their comfort that he does so. Nehemiah had reason to think that the hearts of those sinners were desperately hardened, else he would not have prayed that their sins might never be blotted out. Good work goes on well, when people have a mind to it. The reproaches of enemies should quicken us to our duty, not drive us from it....

Verse Nehemiah 4:6. _FOR THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK._] The original is very emphatic: ויהי לב לעם לעשות _vayehi leb leam laasoth_, "For the people had a _heart_ to work." Their _hearts_ were engaged in it; and where the _heart_ is engaged, the work of God goes on well. The whole of this _6_th verse is omitted by the _Septuagint_....

UNTO THE HALF THEREOF - i. e. to half the intended height....

EXPOSTION OPEN OPPOSITION OFFERED TO THE WORK BY SANBALLAT AND TOBIAH, AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY NEHEMIAH TO MEET IT (Nehemiah 4:1.). It would seem that Sanballat and his friends, when they first heard that the wall was actually being restored, the working parties formed, and the work taken in hand, could scarcely bring themselves to believe it. "What! These feeble Jews undertake so heavy a task, attempt a work that must occupy so long a time, and for which they had not even the necessary materials? ...

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The indignation and sneers of the enemies (Nehemiah 4:1)_ 2. Nehemiah's ejaculatory prayer (Nehemiah 4:4) 3. Conspiracy, and more prayer (Nehemiah 4:7) 4. Nehemiah's precautions and confidence (Nehemiah 4:10) Nehemiah 4:1. Sanballat (hate in disguise) having heard of the successful building of the wall, became very angry and mocked the Jews. And Tobiah the Ammonite used sarcasm. He said that which they build will be so weak that one of the foxes, which infested the broken-down walls ...

SAMARITAN ATTEMPT TO FRUSTRATE THE BUILDING OF THE WALLS. In Nehemiah 4:2 f. the text is very corrupt, though the general sense of the passage is fairly clear, viz. the Samaritans mock the efforts made by the Jews in building the walls; Sanballat's wrath in conjunction with his contempt is a little incongruous. The mention of the Samaritan army is difficult to account for; if an army had really been there some attempt would assuredly have been made there and then to stop the building; probably we must picture a crowd of Samaritans and not warriors. But the corrupt state of the text makes it impossible to feel sure what the meaning really is. Nehemiah 4:2. will they fortify themselves? The Heb. will they leave to them? is meaningless; Ryle emends the text so as to read, will they commit themselves t

UNTO THE HALF. The circuit complete to _half the height._ MIND. heart....

_So built we_ R.V. SO WE BUILT. No emphasis on -we." _unto the half thereof_ R.V. UNTO HALF the height THEREOF. -All the wall was joined together." The circumvallation was complete. There were no gaps or breaches. The wall had been raised to half its height all the way round. The most ancient wall, the foundations of which were discovered by Sir Charles Warren, must have had a height of 200 feet! _for the people had a mind to work_ The enthusiasm of the people explains the rapidity of the work. Nehemiah disclaims any credit to himself. _a mind_ literally, -heart....

DISCOURSE: 440 THE EFFICACY OF ZEAL AND DILIGENCE Nehemiah 4:6. _The people had a mind to work_. GREAT and useful undertakings are often declined, from an idea that we are not able to carry them into effect, when, in fact, nothing is wanting to ensure success in them, but zeal and diligence. The history before us strongly exemplifies this remark. The walls of Jerusalem still continued in their desolate condition, notwithstanding the Jews had returned thither about ninety years: but, at the instigation of one single man, the people combined; and engaging heartily in the work, they effected in a short space of time what had appeared utterly impracticable: Nehemiah says, “So built we the wall; for the people had a mind to work.” Let us consider, I. The reason assigned for their success— The work which the people had to perform was attended with many difficulties