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Text -- Nehemiah 4:1-23 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
Opposition to the Work Continues
4:1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset . He derided the Jews ,
4:2 and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said , “What are these feeble Jews doing ? Will they be left to themselves ? Will they again offer sacrifice ? Will they finish this in a day ? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust ?”
4:3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite , who was close by , said , “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building , it would break down their wall of stones !”
4:4 Hear , O our God , for we are despised ! Return their reproach on their own head ! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile !
4:5 Do not cover their iniquity , and do not wipe out their sin from before them. For they have bitterly offended the builders !
4:6 So we rebuilt the wall , and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. The people were enthusiastic in their work .
4:7 When Sanballat , Tobiah , the Arabs , the Ammonites , and the people of Ashdod heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem had moved ahead and that the breaches had begun to be closed , they were very angry .
4:8 All of them conspired together to move with armed forces against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it.
4:9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard to protect against them both day and night .
4:10 Then those in Judah said , “The strength of the laborers has failed ! The debris is so great that we are unable to rebuild the wall .”
4:11 Our adversaries also boasted , “Before they are aware or anticipate anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt !”
4:12 So it happened that the Jews who were living near them came and warned us repeatedly about all the schemes they were plotting against us.
4:13 So I stationed people at the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places. I stationed the people by families , with their swords , spears , and bows .
4:14 When I had made an inspection , I stood up and said to the nobles , the officials , and the rest of the people , “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord , and fight on behalf of your brothers , your sons , your daughters , your wives , and your families !”
4:15 It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, God frustrated their intentions . Then all of us returned to the wall , each to his own work .
4:16 From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears , shields , bows , and body armor . Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah
4:17 who were rebuilding the wall . Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon .
4:18 The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building . But the trumpeter remained with me.
4:19 I said to the nobles , the officials , and the rest of the people , “The work is demanding and extensive , and we are spread out on the wall , far removed from one another .
4:20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet , gather there with us. Our God will fight for us!”
4:21 So we worked on, with half holding spears , from dawn till dusk .
4:22 At that time I instructed the people , “Let every man and his coworker spend the night in Jerusalem and let them be guards for us by night and workers by day .
4:23 We did not change clothes – not I , nor my relatives , nor my workers , nor the watchmen who were with me. Each had his weapon , even when getting a drink of water .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Neh 4:1; Neh 4:2; Neh 4:2; Neh 4:2; Neh 4:5; Neh 4:5; Neh 4:6; Neh 4:6; Neh 4:7; Neh 4:7; Neh 4:8; Neh 4:9; Neh 4:10; Neh 4:11; Neh 4:11; Neh 4:12; Neh 4:12; Neh 4:12; Neh 4:13; Neh 4:13; Neh 4:14; Neh 4:14; Neh 4:14; Neh 4:15; Neh 4:16; Neh 4:16; Neh 4:17; Neh 4:17; Neh 4:18; Neh 4:19; Neh 4:21; Neh 4:21; Neh 4:21; Neh 4:22; Neh 4:23; Neh 4:23
NET Notes: Neh 4:1 Beginning with 4:1, the verse numbers through 4:23 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 4:1 ET = 3:33 HT,...
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NET Notes: Neh 4:2 The Hebrew text is difficult here. The present translation follows the MT, but the text may be corrupt. H. G. M. Williamson (Ezra, Nehemiah [WBC], 213...
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NET Notes: Neh 4:5 Heb “before the builders.” The preposition נֶגֶד (neged, “before”) here connotes “in the s...
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NET Notes: Neh 4:7 For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
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NET Notes: Neh 4:9 Heb “against them.” The words “to protect” are added in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness. Some emend MT ...
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NET Notes: Neh 4:12 The MT reads תָּשׁוּבוּ (tashuvu, “you turn”) which is awkward contextually. T...
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NET Notes: Neh 4:13 The meaning of the Hebrew term צְחִיחִים (tsÿkhikhim) here is uncertain. Elsewhere (Ezek 24...
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NET Notes: Neh 4:17 Heb “were carrying loads.” The LXX reads ἐν ὅπλοις (en hoplois, “with weapons”).
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