mh_parser/vol_split/16 - Nehemiah/Chapter 6.xml

<div2 id="Neh.vii" n="vii" next="Neh.viii" prev="Neh.vi" progress="94.16%" title="Chapter VI">
<h2 id="Neh.vii-p0.1">N E H E M I A H</h2>
<h3 id="Neh.vii-p0.2">CHAP. VI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Neh.vii-p1">The cries of oppressed poverty being stilled, we
are now to enquire how the building of the wall goes forward, and
in this chapter we find it carried on with vigour and finished with
joy, notwithstanding the restless attempts of the gates of hell to
hinder it. How the Jews' enemies were baffled in their design to
put a stop to it by force we read before, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.4.1-Neh.4.23" parsed="|Neh|4|1|4|23" passage="Ne 4:1-23"><i>ch.</i> iv.</scripRef> Here we find how their
endeavours to drive Nehemiah off from it were frustrated. I. When
they courted him to an interview, with design to do him a mischief,
he would not stir, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.1-Neh.6.4" parsed="|Neh|6|1|6|4" passage="Ne 6:1-4">ver.
1-4</scripRef>. II. When they would have made him believe his
undertaking was represented as seditious and treasonable, he
regarded not the insinuation, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.5-Neh.6.9" parsed="|Neh|6|5|6|9" passage="Ne 6:5-9">ver.
5-9</scripRef>. III. When they hired pretended prophets to advise
him to retire into the temple for his own safety, still he kept his
ground, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.10-Neh.6.14" parsed="|Neh|6|10|6|14" passage="Ne 6:10-14">ver. 10-14</scripRef>. IV.
Notwithstanding the secret correspondence that was kept up between
them and some false and treacherous Jews, the work was finished in
a short time, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.15-Neh.6.19" parsed="|Neh|6|15|6|19" passage="Ne 6:15-19">ver. 15-19</scripRef>.
Such as these were the struggles between the church and its
enemies. But great is God's cause and it will be prosperous and
victorious.</p>
<scripCom id="Neh.vii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6" parsed="|Neh|6|0|0|0" passage="Ne 6" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Neh.vii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.1-Neh.6.9" parsed="|Neh|6|1|6|9" passage="Ne 6:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.6.1-Neh.6.9">
<h4 id="Neh.vii-p1.8">The Plot of Sanballat,
&amp;c. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vii-p1.9">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.vii-p2">1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and
Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard
that I had builded the wall, and <i>that</i> there was no breach
left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon
the gates;)   2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me,
saying, Come, let us meet together in <i>some one of</i> the
villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
  3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I <i>am</i> doing
a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work
cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?   4 Yet they
sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after
the same manner.   5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me
in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
  6 Wherein <i>was</i> written, It is reported among the
heathen, and Gashmu saith <i>it, that</i> thou and the Jews think
to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest
be their king, according to these words.   7 And thou hast
also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying,
<i>There is</i> a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to
the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us
take counsel together.   8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There
are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out
of thine own heart.   9 For they all made us afraid, saying,
Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.
Now therefore, <i>O God,</i> strengthen my hands.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p3">Two plots upon Nehemiah we have here an
account of, how cunningly they were laid by his enemies and how
happily frustrated by God's good providence and his prudence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p4">I. A plot to trepan him into a snare. The
enemies had an account of the good forwardness the work was in,
that all the breaches of the wall were made up, so that they
considered it as good as done, though at that time the <i>doors of
the gates</i> were off the hinges (<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.1" parsed="|Neh|6|1|0|0" passage="Ne 6:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>); they must therefore now or never,
by one bold stroke, take off Nehemiah. They heard how well guarded
he was, so that there was no attacking him upon the spot; they will
therefore try by all the arts of wheedling to get him among them.
Observe, 1. With what hellish subtlety they courted him to meet
them, not in any city, lest that should excite a suspicion that
they intended to secure him, but in a village in the lot of
Benjamin: "<i>Come, let us meet together</i> to consult about the
common interests of our provinces." Or they would have him think
that they coveted his friendship, and would be glad to be better
acquainted with him, in order to a good understanding between them
and the settling of a good correspondence. <i>But they thought to
do him a mischief.</i> It is probable that he had some secret
intelligence given him that they designed to imprison or murder
him; or he knew them so well that, without breach of charity, he
concluded they aimed at his life, and therefore, when they <i>spoke
fair, he believed them not.</i> 2. See with what heavenly wisdom he
declined the motion. His <i>God did instruct him</i> to give them
that prudent answer by messengers of his own: "<i>I am doing a
great work,</i> am very busy, and am loth to let the work stand
still while I leave it to <i>come down to you,</i>" <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.3" parsed="|Neh|6|3|0|0" passage="Ne 6:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. His care was that the work
might not cease; he knew it would if he left it ever so little; and
<i>why should it cease while I come down to you?</i> He says
nothing of his jealousies, nor reproaches them for their
treacherous design, but gives them a good reason and one of the
true reasons why he would not come. Compliment must always give way
to business. Let those that are tempted to idle merry meetings by
their vain companions thus answer the temptation, "We have work to
do, and must not neglect it." Four times they attacked him with the
same solicitation, and he as often returned the same answer, which,
we may suppose, was very vexatious to them; for really it was the
ceasing of the work that they aimed at, and it would make them
despair of breaking the undertaking to see the undertaker so intent
upon it. <i>I answered them</i> (says he) <i>after the same
manner,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.4" parsed="|Neh|6|4|0|0" passage="Ne 6:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>.
Note, We must never suffer ourselves to be overcome by the greatest
importunity to do any thing sinful or imprudent; but, when we are
attacked with the same temptation, must still resist it with the
same reason and resolution.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p5">II. A plot to terrify him from his work.
Could they but drive him off, the work would cease of course. This
therefore Sanballat attempts, but in vain. 1. He endeavours to
possess Nehemiah with an apprehension that his undertaking to build
the walls of Jerusalem was generally represented as factious and
seditious, and would be resented accordingly at court, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.5-Neh.6.7" parsed="|Neh|6|5|6|7" passage="Ne 6:5-7"><i>v.</i> 5-7</scripRef>. The best men, even in
their most innocent and excellent performances, have lain under
this imputation. This is written to him in <i>an open letter,</i>
as a thing generally known and talked of, that it was reported
among the nations, and Gashmu will aver it for truth, that Nehemiah
was aiming to make himself king and to shake off the Persian yoke.
Note, It is common for that which is the sense only of the
malicious to be falsely represented by them as the sense of the
many. Now Sanballat pretends to inform Nehemiah of this as a
friend, that he might hasten to court to clear himself, or stay his
proceedings, for fear they should be thus misconstrued; at least,
upon this surmise, he urges him to give him the meeting—"<i>Let us
take counsel together</i> how to quell the report," hoping by this
means either to take him off, or at least to take him off from his
business. Thus were his words <i>softer than oil,</i> and yet
<i>war was in his heart,</i> and he hoped, like Judas, to kiss and
kill. But surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any
bird. Nehemiah was soon aware what they aimed at, to <i>weaken
their hands from the work</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.9" parsed="|Neh|6|9|0|0" passage="Ne 6:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), and therefore not only denied that such things were
true, but that they were reported; he was better known than to be
thus suspected. 2. Thus he escaped the snare and kept his ground,
nor would he be frightened by winds and clouds from sowing and
reaping. Suppose it was thus reported, we must never omit known
duty merely for fear it should be misconstrued; but, while we keep
a good conscience, let us trust God with our good name. But indeed
it was not thus reported. God's people, though sufficiently loaded
with reproach, yet are not really so low in reputation as some
would have them thought to be.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p6">In the midst of his complaint of their
malice, in endeavouring to frighten him, and so weaken his hands,
he lifts up his heart to Heaven in this short prayer: <i>Now
therefore, O God! strengthen my hands.</i> It is the great support
and relief of good people that in all their straits and
difficulties they have a good God to go to, from whom, by faith and
prayer, they may fetch in grace to silence their fears and
<i>strengthen their hands</i> when their enemies are endeavouring
to fill them with fears and weaken their hands. When, in our
Christian work and warfare, we are entering upon any particular
services or conflicts, this is a good prayer for us to put up: "I
have such a duty to do, such a temptation to grapple with; <i>now
therefore, O God! strengthen my hands.</i>" Some read it, not as a
prayer, but as a holy resolution (for <i>O God</i> is supplied in
our translation): <i>Now therefore I will strengthen my hands.</i>
Note, Christian fortitude will be sharpened by opposition. Every
temptation to draw us from duty should quicken us so much the more
to duty.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Neh.vii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.10-Neh.6.14" parsed="|Neh|6|10|6|14" passage="Ne 6:10-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.6.10-Neh.6.14">
<h4 id="Neh.vii-p6.2">Shemaiah's Plot Defeated. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vii-p6.3">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.vii-p7">10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah
the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who <i>was</i> shut up;
and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the
temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come
to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.  
11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who <i>is
there,</i> that, <i>being</i> as I <i>am,</i> would go into the
temple to save his life? I will not go in.   12 And, lo, I
perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this
prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.  
13 Therefore <i>was</i> he hired, that I should be afraid, and do
so, and sin, and <i>that</i> they might have <i>matter</i> for an
evil report, that they might reproach me.   14 My God, think
thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and
on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would
have put me in fear.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p8">The Jews' enemies leave no stone unturned,
no way untried, to take Nehemiah off from building the wall about
Jerusalem. In order to this they had tried to fetch him into the
country to them, but in vain; now they try to drive him into the
temple for his own safety; let him be any where but at his work.
Observing him to be a cautious man, they will endeavour to gain
their point by making him cowardly. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p9">I. How basely the enemies managed this
temptation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p10">1. That which they designed was to bring
Nehemiah to do a foolish thing, that they might laugh at him, and
insult over him for doing it, and so lessen his interest and
influence (<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.13" parsed="|Neh|6|13|0|0" passage="Ne 6:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>):
<i>That I should be afraid,</i> and so they might have <i>matter
for an evil report,</i> and <i>might reproach me.</i> This was
indeed doing the devil's work, who is men's tempter that he may be
their accuser, draws men to sin that he may glory in their shame.
The greatest mischief our enemies can do us is to frighten us from
our duty and bring us to do what is sinful.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p11">2. The tools they made use of were a
pretended prophet and prophetess, whom they hired to persuade
Nehemiah to quit his work and retire for his own safety. The
pretended prophet was Shemaiah, of whom it is said that he was
<i>shut up</i> in his own house, either under pretence of
retirement for meditation and to consult the mind of God or to give
Nehemiah a sign in like manner to make himself a recluse. It should
seem, Nehemiah had a value for him, for he went to his house to
consult him, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.10" parsed="|Neh|6|10|0|0" passage="Ne 6:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>.
Other prophets there were, and one prophetess, Noadiah (<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.14" parsed="|Neh|6|14|0|0" passage="Ne 6:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), that were in the
interest of the Jews' enemies, pensioners to them and traitors to
their country. Whether they pretended to inspiration does not
appear; they do not say, <i>Thus saith the Lord,</i> as the false
prophets of old did; if not so, yet they would be thought to excel
in divine knowledge, and human prudence, and to have uncommon
measures of insight and foresight, and were therefore consulted in
difficult cases, as prophets had been. These the enemies feed to be
of counsel for them. Let us hence take occasion to lament, (1.) The
wickedness of such bad men as these prophets, that ever any should
be so perfidious as to betray the cause of God and their country
even under the pretence of communion with God and concern for their
country. (2.) The unhappiness of such good men as Nehemiah, who are
in danger of being imposed upon by such cheats, and to whom no
temptation comes with more force than that which comes under a
colour of religion, of revelation and devotion, and is brought by
the hand of prophets.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p12">3. The pretence was plausible. These
prophets suggested to Nehemiah that the enemies would come and slay
him, <i>in the night</i> they would slay him, which he had reason
enough to believe was true; they would, if they could, if they
durst. They pretended to be much concerned for his safety. The
people would be all undone if any harm should come to him; and
therefore they very gravely advised him to hide himself in the
temple till the danger was over; that was a strong and sacred
place, where he would be under the special protection of Heaven,
<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.5" parsed="|Ps|27|5|0|0" passage="Ps 27:5">Ps. xxvii. 5</scripRef>. If Nehemiah
had been prevailed upon to do this, immediately the people would
both have left off their work and thrown down their arms, and every
one would have shifted for his own safety; and then the enemies
might easily, and without opposition, have demolished the works,
broken down the wall again, and so gained their point. Though
self-preservation is a fundamental principle of the law of nature,
yet that is not always the best and wisest counsel which pretends
to go upon that principle.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p13">II. See how bravely Nehemiah vanquished
this temptation, and came off a conqueror.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p14">1. He immediately resolved not to yield to
it, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.11" parsed="|Neh|6|11|0|0" passage="Ne 6:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. See here,
(1.) What his reasonings are: "<i>Should such a man as I flee?</i>
Shall I desert God's work, or discourage my own workmen whom I have
employed and encouraged? Shall I be over-credulous of report, and
over-solicitous about my own life? I that am the governor, on whom
so many eyes are, both of friends and foes? Another might flee, but
not I. <i>Who is there that being as I am,</i> in my post of
honour, and power, and trust, would go into the temple, and lurk
there, when business is to be done, yea, though it were to save his
life?" Note, When we are tempted to sin we should remember who and
what we are, that we may not do any thing unbecoming us, and the
profession we make. <i>It is not for kings, O Lemuel!</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.31.4" parsed="|Prov|31|4|0|0" passage="Pr 31:4">Prov. xxxi. 4</scripRef>. (2.) What was the
result of his reasonings. He is at a point: "I will not go in. I
will rather die at my work than live in an inglorious retreat from
it." Note, Holy courage and magnanimity will engage us, whatever it
cost us, never to <i>decline a good work,</i> nor ever to <i>do a
bad one.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p15">2. He was immediately aware of what was the
rise of it (<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.12" parsed="|Neh|6|12|0|0" passage="Ne 6:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>):
"<i>I perceived that God had not sent him,</i> that he gave this
advice, not by any divine direction, ordinary or extraordinary, but
with a design against me." The wickedness of such mercenary
wretches will sooner or later be brought to light. Two things
Nehemiah says he dreaded in that which he was advised to:—(1.)
Offending God: <i>That I should be afraid, and do so, and sin.</i>
Note, Sin is that which above any thing we should dread; and a good
preservative it is against sin to be afraid of nothing but sin.
(2.) Shaming himself: <i>That they might reproach me.</i> Note,
Next to the sinfulness of sin we should dread the scandalousness of
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p16">3. He humbly begs of God to reckon with
them for their base designs upon him (<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.14" parsed="|Neh|6|14|0|0" passage="Ne 6:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): <i>My God, think thou upon
Tobiah,</i> and the rest of them, <i>according to their works.</i>
As, when he had mentioned his own good services, he did not
covetously or ambitiously prescribe to God what reward he should
give him, but modestly prayed, <i>Think upon me, my God</i>
(<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.19" parsed="|Neh|5|19|0|0" passage="Ne 5:19"><i>ch.</i> v. 19</scripRef>), so here
he does not revengefully imprecate any particular judgment upon his
enemies, but refers the matter to God. "Thou knowest their hearts,
and art the avenger of falsehood and wrong; take cognizance of this
cause; judge between me and them, and take what way and time thou
mayest please to call them to an account for it." Note, Whatever
injuries are done us we must not avenge ourselves, but commit our
cause to him that judgeth righteously.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Neh.vii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.15-Neh.6.19" parsed="|Neh|6|15|6|19" passage="Ne 6:15-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.6.15-Neh.6.19">
<h4 id="Neh.vii-p16.4">The Completion of the Wall. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vii-p16.5">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.vii-p17">15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and
fifth <i>day</i> of <i>the month</i> Elul, in fifty and two days.
  16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard
<i>thereof,</i> and all the heathen that <i>were</i> about us saw
<i>these things,</i> they were much cast down in their own eyes:
for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.   17
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto
Tobiah, and <i>the letters</i> of Tobiah came unto them.   18
For <i>there were</i> many in Judah sworn unto him, because he
<i>was</i> the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his
son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of
Berechiah.   19 Also they reported his good deeds before me,
and uttered my words to him. <i>And</i> Tobiah sent letters to put
me in fear.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p18">Nehemiah is here finishing the wall of
Jerusalem, and yet still has trouble created him by his
enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p19">I. Tobiah, and the other adversaries of the
Jews, had the mortification to see the wall built up,
notwithstanding all their attempts to hinder it. The wall was begun
and finished <i>in fifty-two days,</i> and yet we have reason to
believe they rested on the sabbaths, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.15" parsed="|Neh|6|15|0|0" passage="Ne 6:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Many were employed, and there
was room for them; what they did they did cheerfully, and minded
their business because they loved it. The threats of their enemies,
which were intended to weaken them, it is likely, quickened them to
go on with their work the more vigorously, that they might get it
done before the enemy came. Thus <i>out of the eater came forth
meat.</i> See what a great deal of work may be done in a little
time if we would set about it in earnest and keep close to it. When
the enemies heard that the wall was finished before they thought it
was well begun, and, when they doubted not but to put a stop to it,
they were <i>much cast down in their own eyes,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.16" parsed="|Neh|6|16|0|0" passage="Ne 6:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. 1. They were ashamed of
their own confidence that they should <i>cause the work to
cease;</i> they were crest-fallen upon the disappointment. 2. They
envied the prosperity and success of the Jews, grieved to see the
walls of Jerusalem built, while, it may be, the kings of Persia had
not permitted them thus to fortify the cities of Samaria. When Cain
envied his brother his <i>countenance fell,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.4.5" parsed="|Gen|4|5|0|0" passage="Ge 4:5">Gen. iv. 5</scripRef>. 3. They despaired of ever doing
them the mischief they designed them, of bringing them down and
making a prey of them; and well they might, for they perceived, by
the wonderful success, <i>that the work was wrought of God.</i>
Even these heathens had so much sense as, [1.] To see a special
providence of God conversant about the affairs of the church when
they did remarkably prosper. They <i>said among the heathen, The
Lord has done great things for them;</i> it is his doing, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.2" parsed="|Ps|126|2|0|0" passage="Ps 126:2">Ps. cxxvi. 2</scripRef>. God fighteth for Israel
and worketh with them. [2.] To believe that God's work would be
perfect. When they perceived that the <i>work was of God</i> they
expected no other than that it would go on and prosper. [3.] To
conclude that, if it were of God, it was to no purpose to think of
opposing it; it would certainly prevail and be victorious.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vii-p20">II. Nehemiah had the vexation,
notwithstanding this, to see some of his own people treacherously
corresponding with Tobiah and serving his interest; and a great
grief and discouragement, no doubt, it was to him. 1. Even of the
nobles of Judah there were those who had so little sense of honour
and their country's good as to communicate with Tobiah by letter,
<scripRef id="Neh.vii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.17" parsed="|Neh|6|17|0|0" passage="Ne 6:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. They wrote
with all the freedom and familiarity of friends to him, and
welcomed his letters to them. Could nobles do a thing so mean?
Nobles of Judah so wicked a thing? It seems great men are not
always wise, not always honest. 2. Many in Judah were in a strict
but secret confederacy with him to advance the interest of his
country, though it would certainly be the ruin of their own. They
were <i>sworn unto him,</i> not as their prince, but as their
friend and ally, because both he and his son had married daughters
of Israel, <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.18" parsed="|Neh|6|18|0|0" passage="Ne 6:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. See
the mischief of marrying with strangers; for one heathen that was
converted by it ten Jews were perverted. When once they became akin
to Tobiah they soon became sworn to him. A sinful love leads to a
sinful league. 3. They had the impudence to court Nehemiah himself
into a friendship with him: "<i>They reported his good deeds before
me,</i> represented him as an intelligent gentleman and well worthy
my acquaintance, an honest gentleman and one that I might confide
in." We are indeed required to <i>speak ill of no man,</i> but
never to speak well of bad men. <i>Those that forsake the law
praise the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.28.4" parsed="|Prov|28|4|0|0" passage="Pr 28:4">Prov. xxviii.
4</scripRef>. 4. They were so false as to betray Nehemiah's
counsels to him; they uttered Nehemiah's words to him, perverting
them, no doubt, and putting false constructions upon them, which
furnished Tobiah with matter for letters to put him in fear and so
drive him from his work and discourage him in it. Thus were all
their thoughts against him for evil, yet God thought upon him for
good.</p>
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