Nehemiah 4
1 While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work.
7 Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch.
13 He arms the labourers;
19 and gives military precepts.
Sanballat <05571> [Sanballat.]
derided <03932> [mocked.]
<02428> [the army.]
feeble <0537> [feeble.]
left ....... offer sacrifice <05800 02076> [fortify themselves. Heb. leave to themselves. sacrifice.]
life <02421> [revive.]
Tobiah <02900> [Tobiah.]
Hear <08085> [Hear.]
despised <0939> [despised. Heb. despite. turn.]
cover ... iniquity <03680 05771> [cover not.]
sin <02403> [their sin.]
builders <01129> [before the builders.]
wall ..... wall <02346> [and all the wall.]
That is, the whole circuit of the wall was completed unto half the intended height.
people <05971> [for the people.]
The original is very emphatic, {wyhee laiv l‰ƒm l„ƒsoth,} "for the people had a heart to work." Their heart was engaged in it, and they went about it cheerfully and vigorously.
<03820> [had a mind.]
Sanballat <05571> [Sanballat.]
Ammonites <05984> [the Ammonites.]
Ashdod <0796> [Ashdodites.]
When <08085> [heard.]
restoration <0724> [were made up. Heb. ascended. then.]
together <03162> [all.]
create <06213> [hinder it. Heb. make an error to it.]
prayed <06419> [Nevertheless.]
stationed ... guard <04929 05975> [set a watch.]
strength <03581> [The strength.]
laborers <05449> [bearers.]
aware <03045> [They shall not.]
repeatedly <06471 06235> [ten times.]
schemes <04725> [From all places, etc. or, That from all places ye must return to us. ye shall return.]
Houbigant, Michaelis, and Dathe contend, that instead of {tashoovoo,} "ye shall return," we should read {chashevoo,} "they designed."
So ... stationed ............... stationed <05975> [Therefore.]
lower places <04725 08482> [in the lower places. Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc. their swords.]
[Be ye not afraid.]
Remember <02142> [remember.]
great <01419> [great.]
fight <03898> [fight.]
God <0430> [God.]
each <0376> [every one.]
men <05288> [my servants.]
half .......... half <02677> [and the other half.]
This is no unusual thing in Palestine, even at the present day; people sowing their seed are often attended by armed men, to prevent the Arabs from robbing them of it.
body armor <08302> [habergeons.]
{Habergeon,} from the Teutonic {hals,} the neck, and {bergen,} to cover, defend, may be considered as signifying a breast-plate, though the Franco-Gallic {hautbergon} signifies a coat of mail; the original {shiryon,} we have already seen, denotes a corslet.
carrying loads <05447 05375> [bare burdens.]
one ........ other <0259> [every one.]
That is, he had his arms at hand; and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. The builders could not possibly have made any progress, if they had literally held a weapon in one of their hands; but the expression is evidently figurative, implying that every man was a much a soldier as a builder.
one ........ other <0259> [with one.]
sides <04975> [by his side. Heb. on his loins. he that sounded.]
God <0430> [our God.]
<06213> [So we.]
man <0376> [every one.]
relatives <0251> [So neither I.]
Each <0376> [saving that, etc. or, every one went with his weapon for water.]
The original of this obscure clause is {ish shilcho hammayim,} which is rendered by Montanus, {vir missile suum aquas,} "a man his dart to the waters," of which it is difficult to make sense. It is wholly omitted by the LXX.; and one of De Rossi's MSS. reads, {meshallachah Æ’l hammayim,} "in order to send them to the water."
