Chapter 4

1 While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prayeth and continueth the work. 7 Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he setteth a watch. 13 He armeth the labourers, 19 and giveth military precepts.

1. Sanballat. See on ch. 2:10. Nehemiah’s arrival and the preparations for the rebuilding of the wall had been a cause of annoyance to Sanballat and his evil allies, but when the actual building activity started they could no longer restrain themselves.

2. The army of Samaria. The province of Samaria apparently maintained armed forces, with Sanballat as commander in chief. With documentary evidence at hand proving that Sanballat was governor of Samaria (see on ch. 2:10), it no longer seems strange to find him described as a military leader.

3. Tobiah. See on ch. 2:10. As on previous occasions, he seems to have met Sanballat to discuss the course of action to be taken, now that the Jews had actually begun construction.

4. Hear, O our God. Prayer was a habit with Nehemiah, not merely the sudden outburst of emotional impulse (see chs. 5:19; 6:9, 14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31). As in a previous prayer he had used words apparently taken from Daniel (see on ch. 1:5), he now borrows the language of Jeremiah (last part of Neh. 4:4, cf. Jer. 12:3; 17:18; and 18:21, 22; and first part of Neh. 4:5, cf. Jer. 18:23).

6. Unto the half thereof. According to ch. 3 many companies of workmen were busy on various sections of the wall simultaneously. The expression “unto the half” must therefore mean half of the height, not half of the circumference; furthermore, it is expressly stated that “all the wall was joined together.” This interpretation alone is consistent with the further remark that “the breaches began to be stopped” (v. 7). This rapid progress came because “the people had a mind to work.”

7. The Arabians. Three neighboring nations now ally themselves with the Samaritans against the Jews. The Arabians were led into the alliance by Geshem (ch. 2:19), and the Ammonites by Tobiah (ch. 2:10). The inhabitants of the city and vicinity of Ashdod, in the coast district of Philistia, were perhaps encouraged by Sanballat of Samaria to renew their ancient hatred of Judah.

That the walls. The clause thus introduced reads literally “that there came up a healing on the walls of Jerusalem.” The picture is of the new flesh that grows on a wound as it heals.

8. Conspired all of them together. The LXX and the Vulgate read: were all “gathered together.” These translators evidently supposed that in view of what had already taken place it was hardly necessary to suppose that only now was a conspiracy being formed (see chs. 2:19, 20; 4:1–3). According to the LXX the leaders of the opposition assembled a considerable force, with the purpose of attacking Jerusalem, probably expecting that a show of strength would frighten the unwarlike builders and bring their work to a halt.

It. Heb. lo, literally, “to him,” or, “to it.” The statement is obscure. If it refers to the city of Jerusalem, it should have the feminine ending lah; but if it refers to Nehemiah, it should read li, “me.” The phrase should be translated, “to put me [or ”her,“ if the city is meant] in confusion.”

9. Set a watch. Like all wise leaders, Nehemiah kept himself informed of the movements of the enemy. To be prepared for a surprise attack he stationed a guard both day and night, doubtless at outposts some distance beyond the city walls. The community was pious and trusted in divine protection, but this did not keep them from doing everything within their own power. Human effort is to be united with divine power.

10. Judah said. The vigilant guard duty and continuous labor pressed heavily upon the people and discouraged them. Their complaint is expressed in poetic form and may have been a song composed and sung by the burden bearers. In Hebrew it consists of ten words, two sentences of two lines each. The first line of each sentence is composed of three words and the second line of two. The last words of the first and third lines rhyme, and originally the second and fourth may have also. The following translation represents an attempt to render the original thought in poetical form:

Too weak is the carriers’ strength

and too much the debris;

And we are not able

to rebuild the wall.

11. They shall not know. Discouragement increased with word from their enemies that they planned to take the city by surprise and slay the workmen. Nehemiah’s vivid account of what the Jews and their enemies were saying (vs. 10, 11) reflects the forces with which he, as leader, had to contend. The least wavering on his part would have brought the work to a halt.

12. Whence ye shall return unto us. The Hebrew of this clause is obscure. A slight transposition of the letters of one Hebrew word gives the RSV rendering of the entire statement, “From all the places where they live they will come up against us.” This at least makes sense and is appropriate to the context. The meaning of v. 12 thus seems to be that ostentatious movements of the enemy forces, and the rumors of impending attack that they purposely circulated, frightened the Jews living in the border regions of Judea, and perhaps some in enemy territory, to flee to Jerusalem for safety. They brought the alarming report that their enemies were about to attack from all sides; Sanballat and the Samaritans from the north, the Ammonites from the east, the Arabians from the south, and the Philistines (Ashdodites) from the west (see PK 642). The expression “ten times” gives emphasis to the urgency with which the refugees pressed their report and the devastating effect it had on the workmen. Sanballat was counting on a war of nerves to frighten the Jews into inactivity.

13. Set I in the lower places. The first part of v. 13 is obscure. It appears that at the more vulnerable points along the wall, where attack was most likely, Nehemiah posted armed men in conspicuous positions in the hope of forestalling an attack. The grouping of men by families would tend to impress upon each of them the fact that he was fighting for his own kin. The enemy may have advanced to positions opposite the “lower,” or more vulnerable, parts of the rapidly rising wall and was feigning preparations to attack when Nehemiah’s prompt action thwarted their plan by making it clear that the Jews were ready to fight if necessary.

14. I looked. A particular occasion seems indicated, perhaps at a moment when the hostile allies had joined forces and were advancing. This short but stirring appeal seems to have been made in anticipation of imminent attack. That no clash followed seems to indicate that when the enemy approached and from a distance saw the Jews awaiting them in perfect order and well armed, they retired. Whether or not they ever intended actually to fight is not clear.

16. My servants. Probably members of the personal retinue of Nehemiah, Jews placed at his disposal as governor. The list of ch. 3 implies that the work was begun by Judean Jews. But when the situation became more tense and difficult, Nehemiah assigned his personal assistants to the work of construction and his personal bodyguard to guard duty.

The rulers were behind. Probably the foremen. These men stood “behind” the laborers to direct their work and to lead them in the defense of the city if the enemy ventured to attack.

17. They which builded on the wall. Or, “who were building on the wall” (RSV). This clause belongs to v. 16, and explains which members of “all the house of Judah” are meant.

With those that laded. Not a different group of workmen from those “that bare burdens,” as the Hebrew makes clear. The meaning is that the burden bearers were loaded in such a way that they could carry their load with one hand, with the other free to carry a weapon. In case of attack every man was thus ready to defend himself simply by discarding his burden.

18. The builders. Since the builders needed both hands for their work, they wore swords in their girdles, and were thus ready to go into battle with their foes at a moment’s notice.

He that sounded the trumpet. Trumpeters are pictured as signalmen in both Egyptian and Assyrian sculptures of war scenes.

19. Separated upon the wall. As is apparent from the work assignments of ch. 3, the builders were scattered around the entire circuit of the walls, so that at any one point there would normally be but a small body of men.

20. God shall fight for us. Nehemiah’s confidence in divine help was contagious. He himself set a noble example, not only for his contemporaries, but also for us in our mortal combat with the powers of evil. We can be confident that God will fight for us when we labor earnestly to build up His cause, when we attempt to overcome Satan, sin, and self, and when our motives are pure, our trust strong, and our weapons untarnished.

21. So we laboured. A summary of vs. 16–20.

Till the stars appeared. Construction went forward from dawn till dusk; the men worked under pressure to complete the task. In view of the fact that enemy forces were lurking in the vicinity, speed was of the utmost importance. Every stone laid added to the security of the city. Night shifts were hardly possible in ancient times, but full advantage was taken of the first and last rays of light each day.

22. Lodge within Jerusalem. Many of the people lived outside of Jerusalem and had probably been accustomed to return to their respective villages at the close of each day’s work. Now they were requested to remain within the city at night for added protection. The very fact that they were there, and known to be there, would tend to prevent an attack; and if the enemy should make an assault by night, they would be at hand, able to take their part in guarding the work.

23. My brethren. Actual blood brothers are probably meant. That Nehemiah had brothers appears from ch. 1:2, and that one of them, Hanani, had accompanied him to Jerusalem is evident from ch. 7:2.

Put them off for washing. The meaning of the Hebrew expression thus translated is obscure. It reads literally, “each his weapon the water.” The KJV translation is taken from the Vulgate, which is here more of an interpretation than a translation. The LXX omits the statement altogether. The RSV reads, “each kept his weapon in his hand.” Some have modified the last Hebrew word of the verse so that the statement would read, “each his weapon was in his right hand.” Others have tried to explain the Hebrew words as they stand by interpreting the passage to mean, “each man’s weapon was his water,” that is, the weapons were a substitute for water, or that a man’s only bath was his weapon. According to this interpretation, the passage is idiomatic, perhaps an expression used by soldiers to describe the rigors of a campaign. According to other proposed readings, the workmen did not remove their clothing, “either by night or by day,” or “everywhere went his weapon to the water.”

Ellen G. White comments

1–23PK 641–645

1     3T 574

1, 2 PK 641

3     PK 642

4     3T 574

6     Ed 286

6–8PK 642

7, 8 3T 571

9     PK 659; 3T 572

9, 10, 12–18PK 643

10, 14  GC 56

17   AA 597

18   GC 56

20   PK 645

20–23PK 644