---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Nehemiah 4"
description: "CHAPTER 4   :-. WHILE THE
ENEMIES SCOFF,
NEHEMIAH PRAYS
TO GOD, AND
CONTINUES THE WORK. 1. when Sanballat heard that we
builded the wall, he was wroth—The"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/nehemiah/4"
---

CHAPTER 4

. WHILE THE
ENEMIES SCOFF,
NEHEMIAH PRAYS
TO GOD, AND
CONTINUES THE WORK.

**1. when Sanballat heard that we
builded the wall, he was wroth**—The Samaritan faction showed
their bitter animosity to the Jews on discovering the systematic
design of refortifying Jerusalem. Their opposition was confined at
first to scoffs and insults, in heaping which the governors made
themselves conspicuous, and circulated all sorts of disparaging
reflections that might increase the feelings of hatred and contempt
for them in their own party. The weakness of the Jews in respect of
wealth and numbers, the absurdity of their purpose apparently to
reconstruct the walls and celebrate the feast of dedication in one
day, the idea of raising the walls on their old foundations, as well
as using the charred and mouldering debris of the ruins as the
materials for the restored buildings, and the hope of such a parapet
as they could raise being capable of serving as a fortress of
defense—these all afforded fertile subjects of hostile ridicule.

**3. if a fox go up**—The foxes
were mentioned because they were known to infest in great numbers the
ruined and desolate places in the mount and city of Zion ().

**4, 5. Hear, O our God; for we are
despised**—The imprecations invoked here may seem harsh, cruel,
and vindictive; but it must be remembered that Nehemiah and his
friends regarded those Samaritan leaders as enemies to the cause of
God and His people, and therefore as deserving to be visited with
heavy judgments. The prayer, therefore, is to be considered as
emanating from hearts in which neither hatred, revenge, nor any
inferior passion, but a pious and patriotic zeal for the glory of God
and the success of His cause, held the ascendant sway.

**6. 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.
. HE SETS
A WATCH.

**7-21. But . . . when Sanballat . . .
heard that the walls . . . were made up, and . . . the breaches . . .
stopped**—The rapid progress of the fortifications, despite all
their predictions to the contrary, goaded the Samaritans to frenzy.
So they, dreading danger from the growing greatness of the Jews,
formed a conspiracy to surprise them, demolish their works, and
disperse or intimidate the builders. The plot being discovered,
Nehemiah adopted the most energetic measures for ensuring the common
safety, as well as the uninterrupted building of the walls. Hitherto
the governor, for the sake of despatch, had set all his attendants
and guards on the work—now half of them were withdrawn to be
constantly in arms. The workmen labored with a trowel in one hand and
a sword in the other; and as, in so large a circuit, they were far
removed from each other, Nehemiah (who was night and day on the spot,
and, by his pious exhortations and example, animated the minds of his
people) kept a trumpeter by his side, so that, on any intelligence of
a surprise being brought to him, an alarm might be immediately
sounded, and assistance rendered to the most distant detachment of
their brethren. By these vigilant precautions, the counsels of the
enemy were defeated, and the work was carried on apace. God, when He
has important public work to do, never fails to raise up instruments
for accomplishing it, and in the person of Nehemiah, who, to great
natural acuteness and energy added fervent piety and heroic devotion,
He provided a leader, whose high qualities fitted him for the demands
of the crisis. Nehemiah's vigilance anticipated every difficulty, his
prudent measures defeated every obstruction, and with astonishing
rapidity this Jerusalem was made again "a city fortified."

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