N
E H E M I A H
CHAP. IV.
We
left all hands at work for the building of the wall about
Jerusalem. But such good work is not wont to be carried
on without opposition; now here we are told what opposition was given to it,
and what methods Nehemiah took to forward the work, notwithstanding that
opposition. I. Their enemies reproached and ridiculed their undertaking, but
their scoffs they answered with prayers: they heeded them not, but went on
with their work notwithstanding, ver. 1-6. II. They formed a bloody design
against them, to hinder them by force of arms, ver. 7, 8, 10-12. To guard
against this Nehemiah prayed (ver. 9), set guards (ver. 13), and encouraged
them to fight (ver. 14), by which the design was broken (ver. 15), and so the
work was carried on with all needful precaution against a surprise, ver.
16-23. In all this Nehemiah approved himself a man of great wisdom and
courage, as well as great piety.
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The
Opposition of Sanballat, &c..
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B.
C. 445.
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1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat
heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and
mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army
of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves?
will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the
stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now
Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they
build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own
head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: 5 And
cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before
thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
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.
Here is, I. The spiteful scornful reflection which Sanballat and Tobiah cast
upon the Jews for their attempt to build the wall about Jerusalem. The country
rang of it presently; intelligence was brought of it to Samaria, that nest of
enemies to the Jews and their prosperity; and here we are told how they
received the tidings. 1. In heart. They were very angry at the undertaking,
and had great indignation, v. 1. It vexed them that Nehemiah
came to seek the welfare of the children of Israel (ch. ii. 10); but,
when they heard of this great undertaking for their good, they were out of all
patience. They had hitherto pleased themselves with the thought that while
Jerusalem was unwalled they could swallow it up and make themselves masters of
it when they pleased; but, if it be walled, it will not only be fenced against
them, but by degrees become formidable to them. The strength and safety of the
church are the grief and vexation of its enemies. 2. In word. They despised
it, and made it the subject of their ridicule. In this they sufficiently
displayed their malice; but good was brought out of it; for, looking upon it
as a foolish undertaking that would sink under its own weight, they did not go
about to obstruct it till it was too late. Let us see with what pride and
malice they set themselves publicly to banter it. (1.) Sanballat speaks with
scorn of the workmen: "These feeble Jews" (v. 2),
"what will they do for materials? Will they revive the stones out of
the rubbish? And what mean they by being so hasty? Do they think to make
the walling of a city but one day's work, and to keep the feast of dedication
with sacrifice the next day? Poor silly people! See how ridiculous they make
themselves!" (2.) Tobiah speaks with no less scorn of the work itself. He
has his jest too, and must show his wit, v. 3. Profane scoffers sharpen
one another. "Sorry work," says he, "they are likely to make of
it; they themselves will be ashamed of it: If a fox go up, not with his
subtlety, but with his weight, he will break down their stone wall."
Many a good work has been thus looked upon with contempt by the proud and
haughty scorners.
II. Nehemiah's humble and devout address to God when he heard of these
reflections. He had notice brought him of what they said. It is probable that
they themselves sent him a message to this purport, to discourage him, hoping
to jeer him out of his attempt; but he did not answer these fools according to
their folly; he did not upbraid them with their weakness, but looked up to God
by prayer.
1. He begs of God to take notice of the indignities that were done them (v.
4), and in this we are to imitate him: Hear, O our God! for we are
despised. Note, (1.) God's people have often been a despised people, and
loaded with contempt. (2.) God does, and will, hear all the slights that are
put upon his people, and it is their comfort that he does so and a good reason
why they should be as though they were deaf, Ps. xxxviii. 13, 15. "Thou
art our God to whom we appeal; our cause needs no more than a fair
hearing."
2. He begs of God to avenge their cause and turn the reproach upon the enemies
themselves (v. 4, 5); and this was spoken rather by a spirit of
prophecy than by a spirit of prayer, and is not to be imitated by us who are
taught of Christ to pray for those that despitefully use and
persecute us. Christ himself prayed for those that reproached him: Father,
forgive them. Nehemiah here prays, Cover not their iniquity. Note,
(1.) Those that cast contempt on God's people do but prepare everlasting shame
for themselves. (2.) It is a sin from which sinners are seldom recovered.
Doubtless Nehemiah had reason to think the hearts of those sinners were
desperately hardened, so that they would never repent of it, else he would not
have prayed that it might never be blotted out. The reason he gives is
not, They have abused us, but, They have provoked thee, and that
before the builders, to whom, it is likely, they sent a spiteful
message. Note, We should be angry at the malice of persecutors, not because it
is abusive to us, but because it is offensive to God; and on that we may
ground an expectation that God will appear against it, Ps. lxxiv. 18, 22.
III. The vigour of the builders, notwithstanding these reflections, v.
6. They made such good speed that in a little time they had run up the wall to
half its height, for the people had a mind to work; their hearts were
upon it, and they would have it forwarded. Note, 1. Good work goes on well
when people have a mind to it. 2. The reproaches of enemies should rather
quicken us to our duty than drive us from it.
7 But it came to pass, that when
Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites,
heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches
began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8 And conspired
all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to
hinder it. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set
a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10 And Judah
said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is
much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11 And
our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the
midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12
And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said
unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will
be upon you. 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the
wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their
families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I
looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the
rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is
great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your
daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15 And it came to pass,
when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their
counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his
work.
We have here,
I. The conspiracy which the Jews' enemies formed against them, to stay the
building by slaying the builders. The conspirators were not only Sanballat and
Tobiah, but other neighbouring people whom they had drawn into the plot. They
flattered themselves with a fancy that the work would soon stand still of
itself; but, when they heard that it went on a prospered, they were angry at
the Jews for being so hasty to push the work forward and angry at themselves
for being so slow in opposing it (v. 7): They were very wroth.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel.
Nothing would serve but they would fight against Jerusalem, v.
8. Why, what quarrel had they with the Jews? Had they done them any wrong? Or
did they design them any? No, they lived peaceably by them; but it was merely
out of envy and malice; they hated the Jews' piety, and were therefore vexed
at their prosperity and sought their ruin. Observe, 1. How unanimous they
were: They conspired all of them together, though of different
interests among themselves, yet one in their opposition to the work of God. 2.
How close they were; they said, "They shall not know, neither see,
till we have them at our mercy." Thus they took crafty counsel, and
digged deep to hide it from the Lord, and promised themselves security and
success from the secresy of their management. 3. How cruel they were: We
will come and slay them. If nothing less than the murder of the workmen
will put a stop to the work, they will not stick at that; nay, it is their
blood they thirst for, and they are glad of any pretence to glut themselves
with it. 4. What the design was and how confident they were of success: it was
to cause the work to cease (v. 11), and this they were confident
that they should effect. The hindering of good work is that which bad men aim
at and promise themselves; but good work is God's work, and it shall prosper.
II. The discouragements which the builders themselves laboured under. At the
very time when the adversaries said, Let us cause the work to cease,
Judah said, "Let us even let it fall, for we are not able to go forward
with it," v. 10. They represent the labourers as tired, and the
remaining difficulties, even of that first part of their work, the removing of
the rubbish, as insuperable, and therefore they think it advisable to desist
for the present. Can Judah, that warlike valiant tribe, sneak thus? Active
leading men have many times as much ado to grapple with the fears of their
friends as with the terrors of their enemies.
III. The information that was brought to Nehemiah of the enemies' designs, v.
12. There were Jews that dwelt by them, in the country, who, though
they had not zeal enough to bring them to Jerusalem to help their brethren in
building the wall, yet, having by their situation opportunity to discover the
enemies' motions, had so much honesty and affection to the cause as to give
intelligence of them; nay, that their intelligence might be the more credited,
they came themselves to give it, and they said it ten times, repeating it as
men in earnest, and under a concern, and the report was confirmed by many
witnesses. The intelligence they gave is expressed abruptly, and finds work
for the critics to make out the sense of it, which perhaps is designed to
intimate that they gave this intelligence as men out of breath and in
confusion, whose very looks would make up the deficiencies of their words. I
think it may be read, without supplying any thing: "Whatever place you
turn to, they are against us, so that you have need to be upon your guard
on all sides," Note, God has many ways of bringing to light, and so
bringing to nought, the devices and designs of his and his church's enemies.
Even the cold and feeble Jews that contentedly dwell by them shall be made to
serve as spies upon them; nay, rather than fail, a bird of the air shall
carry their voice.
IV. The pious and prudent methods which Nehemiah, hereupon, took to baffle the
design, and to secure his work and workmen.
1. It is said (v. 14) he looked. (1.) He looked up, engaged God
for him, and put himself and his cause under the divine protection (v.
9): We made our prayer unto our God. That was the way of this good man,
and should be our way; all his cares, all his griefs, all his fears, he spread
before God, and thereby made himself easy. This was the first thing he did;
before he used any means, he made his prayer to God, for with him we must
always begin. (2.) He looked about him. Having prayed, he set a watch
against them. The instructions Christ has given us in our spiritual
warfare agree with this example, Matt. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray. If we
think to secure ourselves by prayer only, without watchfulness, we are
slothful and tempt God; if by watchfulness, without prayer, we are proud and
slight God; and, either way, we forfeit his protection.
2. Observe, (1.) How he posted the guards, v. 13. In the lower
places he set them behind the wall, that they might annoy the enemy
over it, as a breast-work; but in the higher places, where the wall was
raised to its full height, he set them upon it, that from the top of it they
might throw down stones or darts upon the heads of the assailants: he set them
after their families, that mutual relation might engage them to mutual
assistance. (2.) How he animated and encouraged the people, v. 14. He
observed even the nobles and rulers themselves, as well as the rest of the
people, to be in a great consternation upon the intelligence that was brought
them, and ready to conclude that they were all undone, by which their hands
were weakened both for work and war, and therefore, he endeavours to silence
their fears. "Come," says he, "be not afraid of them,
but behave yourselves valiantly, considering, [1.] Whom you fight under. You
cannot have a better captain: Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible;
you think your enemies great and terrible, but what are they in
comparison with God, especially in opposition to him? He is great above them
to control them, and will be terrible to them when he comes to reckon with
them." Those that with an eye of faith see the church's God to be great
and terrible will see the church's enemies to be mean and despicable. The
reigning fear of God is the best antidote against the ensnaring fear of man.
He that is afraid of a man that shall die forgets the Lord his Maker,
Isa. lxxiv. 12, 13. [2.] "Whom you fight for. You cannot have a better
cause; you fight for your brethren (Ps. cxxii. 8), your sons, and
your daughters. All that is dear to you in their world lies at stake;
therefore behave yourselves valiantly."
V. The happy disappointment which this gave to the enemies, v. 15. When
they found that their design was discovered, and that the Jews were upon their
guard, they concluded that it was to no purpose to attempt any thing, but that
God had brought their counsel to nought. They knew they could not gain
their point but by surprise, and, if their plot was known, it was quashed. The
Jews hereupon returned every one to his work, with so much the more
cheerfulness because they saw plainly that God owned it and owned them in the
doing of it. Note, God's care of our safety should engage and encourage us to
go on with vigour in our duty. As soon as ever a danger is over let us return
to our work, and trust God another time.
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The
Precautions of Nehemiah.
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B.
C. 445.
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16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that
the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held
both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers
were behind all the house of Judah. 17 They which builded
on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one
with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held
a weapon. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by
his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by
me. 19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the
rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated
upon the wall, one far from another. 20 In what place therefore
ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall
fight for us. 21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held
the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his
servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us,
and labour on the day. 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my
servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our
clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
When the builders had so far reason to think the design of the enemies broken as
to return to their work, yet they were not so secure as to lay down their
arms, knowing how restless and unwearied they were in their attempts, and
that, if one design failed, they would be hatching another. Thus must we watch
always against our spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be
accomplished till our work is. See what course Nehemiah took, that the people
might hold themselves in a readiness, in case there should be an attack. 1.
While one half were at work, the other half were under their arms, holding spears,
and shields, and bows, not only for themselves but for the labourers too,
who would immediately quit their work, and betake themselves to their weapons,
upon the first alarm, v. 16. It is probable that they changed services
at stated hours, which would relieve the fatigue of both, and particularly
would be an ease to the bearers of burdens, whose strength had decayed
(v. 10); while they held the weapons, they were eased and yet not idle.
Thus dividing their time between the trowels and the spears, they are said to work
with one hand and hold their weapons with the other (v. 17),
which cannot be understood literally, for the work would require both hands;
but it intimates that they were equally employed in both. Thus must we work
out our salvation with the weapons of our warfare in our hand; for in every
duty we must expect to meet with opposition from our spiritual enemies,
against whom we must still be fighting the good fight of faith. 2.
Every builder had a sword by his side (v. 18), which he could carry
without hindering his labour. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit,
which we ought to have always at hand and never to seek, both in our labours
and in our conflicts as Christians. 3. Care was taken both to get and give
early notice of the approach of the enemy, in case they should endeavour to
surprise them. Nehemiah kept a trumpeter always by him to sound an alarm, upon
the first intimation of danger. The work was large, and the builders were
dispersed; for in all parts of the wall they were labouring at the same time.
Nehemiah continually walked round to oversee the work and encourage the
workmen, and so would have speedy intelligence if the enemy made an attack, of
which, by sound of trumpet, he would soon give notice to all, and they must
immediately repair to him with a full assurance that their God would fight
for them, v. 18-20. When they acted as workmen, it was requisite
they should be dispersed wherever there was work to do; but when as soldiers
it was requisite they should come into close order, and be found in a body.
Thus should the labourers in Christ's building be ready to unite against a
common foe. 4. The inhabitants of the villages were ordered to lodge within
Jerusalem, with their servants, not only that they might be the nearer to
their work in the morning, but that they might be ready to help in case of an
attack in the night, v. 22. The strength of a city lies more in its
hands than in its walls; secure them, and God's blessing upon them, and be
secure. 5. Nehemiah himself, and all his men, kept closely to their business.
The spears were held up, with the sight of them to terrify the enemy, not only
from sun to sun, but from twilight to twilight every day, v. 21. Thus
ought we to be always upon our guard against our spiritual enemies, not only
(as here) while it is light, but when it is dark, for they are
the rulers of the darkness of this world. Nay, so very intent was
Nehemiah upon his work, and so fast did he hold his servants to it, that while
the heat of the business lasted neither he himself nor his attendants went
into bed, but every night lay and slept in their clothes (v. 23),
except that they shifted them now and then, either for cleanliness or in a
case of ceremonial pollution. It was a sign that their heart was upon their
work when they could not find time to dress and undress, but resolved they
would be at all times ready for service. Good work is likely to go on
successfully when those that labour in it thus make a business of it.
Contents
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