Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 4

Verse 1

But = And.

SanbalLatin See note on Nehemiah 2:10 .

builded = were building.

wroth. The third form of opposition. See note on Nehemiah 2:10 .

Verse 2

army = force.

What . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

fortify. Hebrew. Homonym, 'azab. See note on Exodus 23:5 . Margin note of Authorized Version and Revised Version neither needed nor correct.

will they sacrifice? Showing that no altar was as yet built or sacrificial worship being carried on.

Verse 3

Tobiah. See note on Nehemiah 2:10 .

Verse 4

Hear. turn. Figure of speech Apostrophe. Nehemiah's prayer an echo of Psalms 120, 121, 123:Psalms 120:3-4 , 124, 125, 127, and 129. In accord with that dispensation.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

despised = become a taunt.

captivity. Some codices, with six early printed editions and Syriac, read "their captivity".

Verse 5

cover not. Hebrew. kasah = conceal not. Not kaphar, to cover by atonement.

sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 6

unto the half. The circuit complete to half the height.

mind = heart.

Verse 7

But. In Hebrew text, Neh 4 begins here.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

stopped = repaired. So the only other occurrence of the Hebrew (2 Chronicles 24:13 ).

Verse 8

hinder = cause a miscarriage.

Verse 9

set a watch. The result of the prayer.

Verse 10

are not = shall not.

Verse 11

cause, &c. = suspend the work.

Verse 12

by = close to.

ten times. Compare Genesis 31:7 .

they will be upon you. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ). Render: "From all quarters to which ye will turn [they will be] upon us".

Verse 13

the lower places behind: or, the lowest parts of the space behind.

Verse 14

rulers. See note on Nehemiah 2:16 .

the LORD * = Jehovah. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim altered Jehovah to Adonai. See App-32 , and compare App-4 .

Verse 15

brought, &c. Compare Job 5:12 ; Psalms 33:10 .

one = man. Hebrew. 'ish .

Verse 16

servants = young men.

habergeons = corselets or coats of mail.

rulers = princes. Hebrew sar.

behind. To encourage, and help if needed.

Verse 18

For = And.

Verse 22

lodge = pass the night. Few, or no houses yet. See Nehemiah 7:4 ; Nehemiah 13:21 . Compare Hebrew. lun. First occurrence Genesis 19:2 ; Genesis 24:23 , Genesis 24:25 , Genesis 24:54 , &c. See note on Nehemiah 7:4 .

Verse 23

the men of the guard. The Persian guard attached to Nehemiah.

none of us, &c. The Hebrew is literally "none of us put off our clothes; each man went with his weapon (or tool) [and his] water". A single and measured part of the ration "water" being put for the whole. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 ; just as we use "salt" for "salary", because it was once the most important part of the salary. Or, the water may have been required for making the mortar. The Figure of speech is used to emphasize the exigency of the circumstances. The text is thus not "defective".