some one of the villages = in Cepherim (Nehemiah 7:29 . Ezra 2:25 ); now Kefr 'Ana, twenty-five miles from Jerusalem; eight miles east of Jaffa; six miles north of Lydda.
plain = valley, or combe.
Ono. Now Kefr 'Ana, five miles north of Lydda (Ezra 2:33 ). Compare Ch. Nehemiah 11:31 .
mischief: to kill or capture Nehemiah. Compare Proverbs 26:24 .
Shemaiah. A professed friend, but a false prophet. See Nehemiah 6:12 .
shut up = confined, as in prison. Hebrew. 'azar. See Jeremiah 33:1 ; Jeremiah 36:5 .
the house of God. This must have been a temporary structure. Nehemiah would not be without some place wherein to worship. The Altar not yet erected. The Temple not yet built. See notes on Nehemiah 7:4 , and p. 618; also App-58 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God.
fifty and two days. If finished on twenty-fifth Elul, and work took fifty-two days, it must have been commenced on third of Ab (fifth month). Work rapid, because all materials there: and God's good hand was there upon them.
Verse 1
SanbalLatin Tobiah. See notes on Nehemiah 2:19 ; Nehemiah 4:7 .
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
Geshem. Another spelling in Sanballat's letter (Nehemiah 6:6 ), Gashmu.
Verse 2
some one of the villages = in Cepherim (Nehemiah 7:29 . Ezra 2:25 ); now Kefr 'Ana, twenty-five miles from Jerusalem; eight miles east of Jaffa; six miles north of Lydda.
plain = valley, or combe.
Ono. Now Kefr 'Ana, five miles north of Lydda (Ezra 2:33 ). Compare Ch. Nehemiah 11:31 .
mischief: to kill or capture Nehemiah. Compare Proverbs 26:24 .
Verse 3
why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
Verse 4
four times. The enemy takes no denial.
after the same manner. The only sure and safe procedure. Compare 1 Samuel 17:30 .
Verse 5
servant = young man.
open letter. That others might read it.
Verse 6
heathen = nations.
Verse 7
There is a king: or, he hath become king.
Come now, &c. The object still compromise.
Verse 8
feignest. Only here and 1 Kings 12:33 (devise).
Verse 9
made us afraid. Sought to make them afraid, but Nehemiah had no fear. See Nehemiah 6:11 .
NOW. Some codices, with three (and one in margin) early printed editions, read "Thou".
hands. Some codices, with six early printed editions, read "hand".
Verse 10
Shemaiah. A professed friend, but a false prophet. See Nehemiah 6:12 .
shut up = confined, as in prison. Hebrew. 'azar. See Jeremiah 33:1 ; Jeremiah 36:5 .
the house of God. This must have been a temporary structure. Nehemiah would not be without some place wherein to worship. The Altar not yet erected. The Temple not yet built. See notes on Nehemiah 7:4 , and p. 618; also App-58 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God.
shut = close, so as to conceal.
Verse 11
Should. Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Hebrew. sagar. Compare Nehemiah 13:19 .
Verse 12
lo. Figure of speech Asterismos.
Verse 13
Therefore = to this end.
sin. Hebrew. chata '. App-44 .
Verse 14
think. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. Compare Nehemiah 5:19 .
Verse 15
fifty and two days. If finished on twenty-fifth Elul, and work took fifty-two days, it must have been commenced on third of Ab (fifth month). Work rapid, because all materials there: and God's good hand was there upon them.
Verse 17
the noblest = certain nobles. Not necessarily all.
Verse 18
son in law. Connected also with a high priest Eliashib Compare Nehemiah 13:4 .
Meshullam. Compare Nehemiah 3:4 , Nehemiah 3:30 .