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.
Therefore G3767 to him that knoweth G1492 to do G4160 good, G2570 and G2532 doeth G4160 it not, G3361 to him G846 it is G2076 sin. G266
For I heard H8085 the defaming H1681 of many, H7227 fear H4032 on every side. H5439 Report, H5046 say they, and we will report H5046 it. All my familiars H582 H7965 watched H8104 for my halting, H6763 H6761 saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, H6601 and we shall prevail H3201 against him, and we shall take H3947 our revenge H5360 on him.
Then said H559 they, Come, H3212 and let us devise H2803 devices H4284 against Jeremiah; H3414 for the law H8451 shall not perish H6 from the priest, H3548 nor counsel H6098 from the wise, H2450 nor the word H1697 from the prophet. H5030 Come, H3212 and let us smite H5221 him with the tongue, H3956 and let us not give heed H7181 to any of his words. H1697
A man H1397 that flattereth H2505 his neighbour H7453 spreadeth H6566 a net H7568 for his feet. H6471
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
But G1161 the fearful, G1169 and G2532 unbelieving, G571 and G2532 the abominable, G948 and G2532 murderers, G5406 and G2532 whoremongers, G4205 and G2532 sorcerers, G5332 and G2532 idolaters, G1496 and G2532 all G3956 liars, G5571 shall have their G846 part G3313 in G1722 the lake G3041 which G3588 burneth G2545 with fire G4442 and G2532 brimstone: G2303 which is G3603 the second G1208 death. G2288
I will G1014 therefore G3767 that the younger women G3501 marry, G1060 bear children, G5041 guide the house, G3616 give G1325 none G3367 occasion G874 to the adversary G480 to G5484 speak reproachfully. G3059
A good name H8034 is rather to be chosen H977 than great H7227 riches, H6239 and loving H2896 favour H2580 rather than silver H3701 and gold. H2091
Then G5119 went G4198 the Pharisees, G5330 and took G2983 counsel G4824 how G3704 they might entangle G3802 him G846 in G1722 his talk. G3056
And G2532 fear G5399 G575 not G3361 them which G3588 kill G615 the body, G4983 but G1161 are G1410 not G3361 able G1410 to kill G615 the soul: G5590 but G1161 rather G3123 fear G5399 him which G3588 is able G1410 to destroy G622 both G2532 soul G5590 and G2532 body G4983 in G1722 hell. G1067
Then H116 the presidents H5632 and princes H324 sought H1934 H1156 to find H7912 occasion H5931 against Daniel H1841 concerning H6655 the kingdom; H4437 but H3606 they could H3202 find H7912 none H3809 occasion H5931 nor H3809 fault; H7844 forasmuch H6903 as he was faithful, H540 neither H3809 was there any H3606 error H7960 or fault H7844 found H7912 in him. H5922 Then H116 said H560 these H479 men, H1400 We shall not H3809 find H7912 any H3606 occasion H5931 against H5922 this H1836 Daniel, H1841 except H3861 we find H7912 it against him concerning the law H1882 of his God. H426
Likewise, thou son H1121 of man, H120 set H7760 thy face H6440 against the daughters H1323 of thy people, H5971 which prophesy H5012 out of their own heart; H3820 and prophesy H5012 thou against them, And say, H559 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Woe H1945 to the women that sew H8609 pillows H3704 to all armholes, H679 H3027 and make H6213 kerchiefs H4555 upon the head H7218 of every stature H6967 to hunt H6679 souls! H5315 Will ye hunt H6679 the souls H5315 of my people, H5971 and will ye save H2421 the souls H5315 alive H2421 that come unto you? And will ye pollute H2490 me among my people H5971 for handfuls H8168 of barley H8184 and for pieces H6595 of bread, H3899 to slay H4191 the souls H5315 that should not die, H4191 and to save H2421 the souls H5315 alive H2421 that should not live, H2421 by your lying H3576 to my people H5971 that hear H8085 your lies? H3577 Wherefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I am against your pillows, H3704 wherewith ye H859 there hunt H6679 the souls H5315 to make them fly, H6524 and I will tear H7167 them from your arms, H2220 and will let the souls H5315 go, H7971 even the souls H5315 that ye hunt H6679 to make them fly. H6524 Your kerchiefs H4555 also will I tear, H7167 and deliver H5337 my people H5971 out of your hand, H3027 and they shall be no more in your hand H3027 to be hunted; H4686 and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 Because with lies H8267 ye have made the heart H3820 of the righteous H6662 sad, H3512 whom I have not made sad; H3510 and strengthened H2388 the hands H3027 of the wicked, H7451 that he should not return H7725 from his wicked H7563 way, H1870 by promising him life: H2421 Therefore ye shall see H2372 no more vanity, H7723 nor divine H7080 divinations: H7081 for I will deliver H5337 my people H5971 out of your hand: H3027 and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068
And thou, son H1121 of man, H120 be not afraid H3372 of them, neither be afraid H3372 of their words, H1697 though briers H5621 and thorns H5544 be with thee, and thou dost dwell H3427 among scorpions: H6137 be not afraid H3372 of their words, H1697 nor be dismayed H2865 at their looks, H6440 though they be a rebellious H4805 house. H1004
Thou therefore gird up H247 thy loins, H4975 and arise, H6965 and speak H1696 unto them all that I command H6680 thee: be not dismayed H2865 at their faces, H6440 lest I confound H2865 thee before H6440 them.
And of whom hast thou been afraid H1672 or feared, H3372 that thou hast lied, H3576 and hast not remembered H2142 me, nor laid H7760 it to thy heart? H3820 have not I held my peace H2814 even of old, H5769 and thou fearest H3372 me not?
I, even I, am he that comforteth H5162 you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid H3372 of a man H582 that shall die, H4191 and of the son H1121 of man H120 which shall be made H5414 as grass; H2682 And forgettest H7911 the LORD H3068 thy maker, H6213 that hath stretched forth H5186 the heavens, H8064 and laid the foundations H3245 of the earth; H776 and hast feared H6342 continually H8548 every day H3117 because H6440 of the fury H2534 of the oppressor, H6693 as if H834 he were ready H3559 to destroy? H7843 and where is the fury H2534 of the oppressor? H6693
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.
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.
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,
Neh 6:15-19
Nehemiah is here finishing the wall of Jerusalem, and yet still has trouble created him by his enemies.