Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Nehemiah » Chapter 6 » Verse 1-19

Nehemiah 6:1-19 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, H5571 and Tobiah, H2900 and Geshem H1654 the Arabian, H6163 and the rest H3499 of our enemies, H341 heard H8085 that I had builded H1129 the wall, H2346 and that there was no breach H6556 left H3498 therein; (though H1571 H5704 at that time H6256 I had not set up H5975 the doors H1817 upon the gates;) H8179

2 That Sanballat H5571 and Geshem H1654 sent H7971 unto me, saying, H559 Come, H3212 let us meet H3259 together H3162 in some one of the villages H3715 in the plain H1237 of Ono. H207 But they thought H2803 to do H6213 me mischief. H7451

3 And I sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto them, saying, H559 I am doing H6213 a great H1419 work, H4399 so that I cannot H3201 come down: H3381 why should the work H4399 cease, H7673 whilst H834 I leave H7503 it, and come down H3381 to you?

4 Yet they sent H7971 unto me four H702 times H6471 after this sort; H1697 and I answered H7725 them after the same manner. H1697

5 Then sent H7971 Sanballat H5571 his servant H5288 unto me in like manner H1697 the fifth H2549 time H6471 with an open H6605 letter H107 in his hand; H3027

6 Wherein was written, H3789 It is reported H8085 among the heathen, H1471 and Gashmu H1654 saith H559 it, that thou and the Jews H3064 think H2803 to rebel: H4775 for which cause H3651 thou buildest H1129 the wall, H2346 that thou mayest be H1933 their king, H4428 according to these words. H1697

7 And thou hast also appointed H5975 prophets H5030 to preach H7121 of thee at Jerusalem, H3389 saying, H559 There is a king H4428 in Judah: H3063 and now shall it be reported H8085 to the king H4428 according to these words. H1697 Come H3212 now therefore, and let us take counsel H3289 together. H3162

8 Then I sent H7971 unto him, saying, H559 There are H1961 no such things H1697 done H1961 as thou sayest, H559 but thou feignest H908 them out of thine own heart. H3820

9 For they all made us afraid, H3372 saying, H559 Their hands H3027 shall be weakened H7503 from the work, H4399 that it be not done. H6213 Now therefore, O God, strengthen H2388 my hands. H3027

10 Afterward I came H935 unto the house H1004 of Shemaiah H8098 the son H1121 of Delaiah H1806 the son H1121 of Mehetabeel, H4105 who was shut up; H6113 and he said, H559 Let us meet together H3259 in the house H1004 of God, H430 within H8432 the temple, H1964 and let us shut H5462 the doors H1817 of the temple: H1964 for they will come H935 to slay H2026 thee; yea, in the night H3915 will they come H935 to slay H2026 thee.

11 And I said, H559 Should such H3644 a man H376 as I flee? H1272 and who is there, that, being as I am, would go H935 into the temple H1964 to save his life? H2425 I will not go in. H935

12 And, lo, I perceived H5234 that God H430 had not sent H7971 him; but that he pronounced H1696 this prophecy H5016 against me: for Tobiah H2900 and Sanballat H5571 had hired H7936 him.

13 Therefore was he hired, H7936 that I should be afraid, H3372 and do so, H6213 and sin, H2398 and that they might have matter for an evil H7451 report, H8034 that they might reproach H2778 me.

14 My God, H430 think H2142 thou upon Tobiah H2900 and Sanballat H5571 according to these their works, H4639 and on the prophetess H5031 Noadiah, H5129 and the rest H3499 of the prophets, H5030 that would have put me in fear. H3372

15 So the wall H2346 was finished H7999 in the twenty H6242 and fifth H2568 day of the month Elul, H435 in fifty H2572 and two H8147 days. H3117

16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies H341 heard H8085 thereof, and all the heathen H1471 that were about us H5439 saw H7200 these things, they were much H3966 cast down H5307 in their own eyes: H5869 for they perceived H3045 that this work H4399 was wrought H6213 of our God. H430

17 Moreover in those days H3117 the nobles H2715 of Judah H3063 sent H1980 many H7235 letters H107 unto Tobiah, H2900 and the letters of Tobiah H2900 came H935 unto them.

18 For there were many H7227 in Judah H3063 sworn H1167 H7621 unto him, because he was the son in law H2860 of Shechaniah H7935 the son H1121 of Arah; H733 and his son H1121 Johanan H3076 had taken H3947 the daughter H1323 of Meshullam H4918 the son H1121 of Berechiah. H1296

19 Also they reported H559 his good deeds H2896 before H6440 me, and uttered H3318 my words H1697 to him. And Tobiah H2900 sent H7971 letters H107 to put me in fear. H3372

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Nehemiah 6

Commentary on Nehemiah 6 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 6

The cries of oppressed poverty being stilled, we are now to enquire how the building of the wall goes forward, and in this chapter we find it carried on with vigour and finished with joy, notwithstanding the restless attempts of the gates of hell to hinder it. How the Jews' enemies were baffled in their design to put a stop to it by force we read before, ch. 4. Here we find how their endeavours to drive Nehemiah off from it were frustrated.

  • I. When they courted him to an interview, with design to do him a mischief, he would not stir (v. 1-4).
  • II. When they would have made him believe his undertaking was represented as seditious and treasonable, he regarded not the insinuation (v. 5-9).
  • III. When they hired pretended prophets to advise him to retire into the temple for his own safety, still he kept his ground (v. 10-14).
  • IV. Notwithstanding the secret correspondence that was kept up between them and some false and treacherous Jews, the work was finished in a short time (v. 15-19).

Such as these were the struggles between the church and its enemies. But great is God's cause and it will be prosperous and victorious.

Neh 6:1-9

Two plots upon Nehemiah we have here an account of, how cunningly they were laid by his enemies and how happily frustrated by God's good providence and his prudence.

  • I. A plot to trepan him into a snare. The enemies had an account of the good forwardness the work was in, that all the breaches of the wall were made up, so that they considered it as good as done, though at that time the doors of the gates were off the hinges (v. 1); they must therefore now or never, by one bold stroke, take off Nehemiah. They heard how well guarded he was, so that there was no attacking him upon the spot; they will therefore try by all the arts of wheedling to get him among them. Observe,
    • 1. With what hellish subtlety they courted him to meet them, not in any city, lest that should excite a suspicion that they intended to secure him, but in a village in the lot of Benjamin: "Come, let us meet together to consult about the common interests of our provinces.' Or they would have him think that they coveted his friendship, and would be glad to be better acquainted with him, in order to a good understanding between them and the settling of a good correspondence. But they thought to do him a mischief. It is probable that he had some secret intelligence given him that they designed to imprison or murder him; or he knew them so well that, without breach of charity, he concluded they aimed at his life, and therefore, when they spoke fair, he believed them not.
    • 2. See with what heavenly wisdom he declined the motion. His God did instruct him to give them that prudent answer by messengers of his own: "I am doing a great work, am very busy, and am loth to let the work stand still while I leave it to come down to you,' v. 3. His care was that the work might not cease; he knew it would if he left it ever so little; and why should it cease while I come down to you? He says nothing of his jealousies, nor reproaches them for their treacherous design, but gives them a good reason and one of the true reasons why he would not come. Compliment must always give way to business. Let those that are tempted to idle merry meetings by their vain companions thus answer the temptation, "We have work to do, and must not neglect it.' Four times they attacked him with the same solicitation, and he as often returned the same answer, which, we may suppose, was very vexatious to them; for really it was the ceasing of the work that they aimed at, and it would make them despair of breaking the undertaking to see the undertaker so intent upon it. I answered them (says he) after the same manner, v. 4. Note, We must never suffer ourselves to be overcome by the greatest importunity to do any thing sinful or imprudent; but, when we are attacked with the same temptation, must still resist it with the same reason and resolution.
  • II. A plot to terrify him from his work. Could they but drive him off, the work would cease of course. This therefore Sanballat attempts, but in vain.
    • 1. he endeavours to possess Nehemiah with an apprehension that his undertaking to build the walls of Jerusalem was generally represented as factious and seditious, and would be resented accordingly at court, v. 5-7. The best men, even in their most innocent and excellent performances, have lain under this imputation. This is written to him in an open letter, as a thing generally known and talked of, that it was reported among the nations, and Gashmu will aver it for truth, that Nehemiah was aiming to make himself king and to shake off the Persian yoke. Note, It is common for that which is the sense only of the malicious to be falsely represented by them as the sense of the many. Now Sanballat pretends to inform Nehemiah of this as a friend, that he might hasten to court to clear himself, or stay his proceedings, for fear they should be thus misconstrued; at least, upon this surmise, he urges him to give him the meeting-"Let us take counsel together how to quell the report,' hoping by this means either to take him off, or at least to take him off from his business. Thus were his words softer than oil, and yet war was in his heart, and he hoped, like Judas, to kiss and kill. But surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird. Nehemiah was soon aware what they aimed at, to weaken their hands from the work (v. 9), and therefore not only denied that such things were true, but that they were reported; he was better known than to be thus suspected.
    • 2. Thus he escaped the snare and kept his ground, nor would he be frightened by winds and clouds from sowing and reaping. Suppose it was thus reported, we must never omit known duty merely for fear it should be misconstrued; but, while we keep a good conscience, let us trust God with our good name. But indeed it was not thus reported. God's people, though sufficiently loaded with reproach, yet are not really so low in reputation as some would have them thought to be.

In the midst of his complaint of their malice, in endeavouring to frighten him, and so weaken his hands, he lifts up his heart to Heaven in this short prayer: Now therefore, O God! strengthen my hands. It is the great support and relief of good people that in all their straits and difficulties they have a good God to go to, from whom, by faith and prayer, they may fetch in grace to silence their fears and strengthen their hands when their enemies are endeavouring to fill them with fears and weaken their hands. When, in our Christian work and warfare, we are entering upon any particular services or conflicts, this is a good prayer for us to put up: "I have such a duty to do, such a temptation to grapple with; now therefore, O God! strengthen my hands.' Some read it, not as a prayer, but as a holy resolution (for O God is supplied in our translation): Now therefore I will strengthen my hands. Note, Christian fortitude will be sharpened by opposition. Every temptation to draw us from duty should quicken us so much the more to duty.

Neh 6:10-14

The Jews' enemies leave no stone unturned, no way untried, to take Nehemiah off from building the wall about Jerusalem. In order to this they had tried to fetch him into the country to them, but in vain; now they try to drive him into the temple for his own safety; let him be any where but at his work. Observing him to be a cautious man, they will endeavour to gain their point by making him cowardly. Observe,

  • I. How basely the enemies managed this temptation.
    • 1. That which they designed was to bring Nehemiah to do a foolish thing, that they might laugh at him, and insult over him for doing it, and so lessen his interest and influence (v. 13): That I should be afraid, and so they might have matter for an evil report, and might reproach me. This was indeed doing the devil's work, who is men's tempter that he may be their accuser, draws men to sin that he may glory in their shame. The greatest mischief our enemies can do us is to frighten us from our duty and bring us to do what is sinful.
    • 2. The tools they made use of were a pretended prophet and prophetess, whom they hired to persuade Nehemiah to quit his work and retire for his own safety. The pretended prophet was Shemaiah, of whom it is said that he was shut up in his own house, either under pretence of retirement for meditation and to consult the mind of God or to give Nehemiah a sign in like manner to make himself a recluse. It should seem, Nehemiah had a value for him, for he went to his house to consult him, v. 10. Other prophets there were, and one prophetess, Noadiah (v. 14), that were in the interest of the Jews' enemies, pensioners to them and traitors to their country. Whether they pretended to inspiration does not appear; they do not say, Thus saith the Lord, as the false prophets of old did; if not so, yet they would be thought to excel in divine knowledge, and human prudence, and to have uncommon measures of insight and foresight, and were therefore consulted in difficult cases, as prophets had been. These the enemies feed to be of counsel for them. Let us hence take occasion to lament,
      • (1.) The wickedness of such bad men as these prophets, that ever any should be so perfidious as to betray the cause of God and their country even under the pretence of communion with God and concern for their country.
      • (2.) The unhappiness of such good men as Nehemiah, who are in danger of being imposed upon by such cheats, and to whom no temptation comes with more force than that which comes under a colour of religion, of revelation and devotion, and is brought by the hand of prophets.
    • 3. The pretence was plausible. These prophets suggested to Nehemiah that the enemies would come and slay him, in the night they would slay him, which he had reason enough to believe was true; they would, if they could, if they durst. They pretended to be much concerned for his safety. The people would be all undone if any harm should come to him; and therefore they very gravely advised him to hide himself in the temple till the danger was over; that was a strong and sacred place, where he would be under the special protection of Heaven, Ps. 27:5. If Nehemiah had been prevailed upon to do this, immediately the people would both have left off their work and thrown down their arms, and every one would have shifted for his own safety; and then the enemies might easily, and without opposition, have demolished the works, broken down the wall again, and so gained their point. Though self-preservation is a fundamental principle of the law of nature, yet that is not always the best and wisest counsel which pretends to go upon that principle.
  • II. See how bravely Nehemiah vanquished this temptation, and came off a conqueror.
    • 1. He immediately resolved not to yield to it, v. 11. See here,
      • (1.) What his reasonings are: "Should such a man as I flee? Shall I desert God's work, or discourage my own workmen whom I have employed and encouraged? Shall I be over-credulous of report, and over-solicitous about my own life? I that am the governor, on whom so many eyes are, both of friends and foes? Another might flee, but not I. Who is there that being as I am, in my post of honour, and power, and trust, would go into the temple, and lurk there, when business is to be done, yea, though it were to save his life?' Note, When we are tempted to sin we should remember who and what we are, that we may not do any thing unbecoming us, and the profession we make. It is not for kings, O Lemuel! Prov. 31:4.
      • (2.) What was the result of his reasonings. He is at a point: "I will not go in. I will rather die at my work than live in an inglorious retreat from it.' Note, Holy courage and magnanimity will engage us, whatever it cost us, never to decline a good work, nor ever to do a bad one.
    • 2. He was immediately aware of what was the rise of it (v. 12): "I perceived that God had not sent him, that he gave this advice, not by any divine direction, ordinary or extraordinary, but with a design against me.' The wickedness of such mercenary wretches will sooner or later be brought to light. Two things Nehemiah says he dreaded in that which he was advised to:-
      • (1.) Offending God: That I should be afraid, and do so, and sin. Note, Sin is that which above any thing we should dread; and a good preservative it is against sin to be afraid of nothing but sin.
      • (2.) Shaming himself: That they might reproach me. Note, Next to the sinfulness of sin we should dread the scandalousness of it.
    • 3. He humbly begs of God to reckon with them for their base designs upon him (v. 14): My God, think thou upon Tobiah, and the rest of them, according to their works. As, when he had mentioned his own good services, he did not covetously or ambitiously prescribe to God what reward he should give him, but modestly prayed, Think upon me, my God (ch. 5:19), so here he does not revengefully imprecate any particular judgment upon his enemies, but refers the matter to God. "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 mayest please to call them to an account for it.' Note, Whatever injuries are done us we must not avenge ourselves, but commit our cause to him that judgeth righteously.

Neh 6:15-19

Nehemiah is here finishing the wall of Jerusalem, and yet still has trouble created him by his enemies.

  • I. Tobiah, and the other adversaries of the Jews, had the mortification to see the wall built up, notwithstanding all their attempts to hinder it. The wall was begun and finished in fifty-two days, and yet we have reason to believe they rested on the sabbaths, v. 15. Many were employed, and there was room for them; what they did they did cheerfully, and minded their business because they loved it. The threats of their enemies, which were intended to weaken them, it is likely, quickened them to go on with their work the more vigorously, that they might get it done before the enemy came. Thus out of the eater came forth meat. See what a great deal of work may be done in a little time if we would set about it in earnest and keep close to it. When the enemies heard that the wall was finished before they thought it was well begun, and, when they doubted not but to put a stop to it, they were much cast down in their own eyes, v. 16.
    • 1. They were ashamed of their own confidence that they should cause the work to cease; they were crest-fallen upon the disappointment.
    • 2. They envied the prosperity and success of the Jews, grieved to see the walls of Jerusalem built, while, it may be, the kings of Persia had not permitted them thus to fortify the cities of Samaria. When Cain envied his brother his countenance fell, Gen. 4:5.
    • 3. They despaired of ever doing them the mischief they designed them, of bringing them down and making a prey of them; and well they might, for they perceived, by the wonderful success, that the work was wrought of God. Even these heathens had so much sense as,
      • [1.] To see a special providence of God conversant about the affairs of the church when they did remarkably prosper. They said among the heathen, The Lord has done great things for them; it is his doing, Ps. 126:2. God fighteth for Israel and worketh with them.
      • [2.] To believe that God's work would be perfect. When the perceived that the work was of God they expected no other than that it would go on and prosper.
      • [3.] To conclude that, if it were of God, it was to no purpose to think of opposing it; it would certainly prevail and be victorious.
  • II. Nehemiah had the vexation, notwithstanding this, to see some of his own people treacherously corresponding with Tobiah and serving his interest; and a great grief and discouragement, no doubt, it was to him.
    • 1. Even of the nobles of Judah there were those who had so little sense of honour and their country's good as to communicate with Tobiah by letter, v. 17. They wrote with all the freedom and familiarity of friends to him, and welcomed his letters to them. Could nobles do a thing so mean? Nobles of Judah so wicked a thing? It seems great men are not always wise, not always honest.
    • 2. Many in Judah were in a strict but secret confederacy with him to advance the interest of his country, though it would certainly be the ruin of their own. They were sworn unto him, not as their prince, but as their friend and ally, because both he and his son had married daughters of Israel, v. 18. See the mischief of marrying with strangers; for one heathen that was converted by it ten Jews were perverted. When once they became akin to Tobiah they soon became sworn to him. A sinful love leads to a sinful league.
    • 3. They had the impudence to court Nehemiah himself into a friendship with him: "They reported his good deeds before me, represented him as an intelligent gentleman and well worthy my acquaintance, an honest gentleman and one that I might confide in.' We are indeed required to speak ill of no man, but never to speak well of bad men. Those that forsake the law praise the wicked, Prov. 28:4.
    • 4. They were so false as to betray Nehemiah's counsels to him; they uttered Nehemiah's words to him, perverting them, no doubt, and putting false constructions upon them, which furnished Tobiah with matter for letters to put him in fear and so drive him from his work and discourage him in it. Thus were all their thoughts against him for evil, yet God thought upon him for good.