606 lines
28 KiB
HTML
606 lines
28 KiB
HTML
<HTML>
|
|
<HEAD>
|
|
<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Nehemiah, Chapter VI].</TITLE>
|
|
<meta name="aesop" content="information">
|
|
<meta name="description" content=
|
|
"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
|
|
<meta name="keywords" content=
|
|
"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
|
|
</HEAD>
|
|
<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
|
|
<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
|
|
on the Whole Bible</h1>
|
|
<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
|
|
</h3>
|
|
</center>
|
|
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC16005.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC16007.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N E H E M I A H</B></FONT>
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VI.</FONT>
|
|
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<FONT SIZE=-1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:1-23"><I>ch.</I> iv.</A>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
|
|
|
|
II. When they would have made him believe his undertaking was
|
|
represented as seditious and treasonable, he regarded not the
|
|
insinuation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:5-9">ver. 5-9</A>.
|
|
|
|
III. When they hired pretended prophets to advise him to retire into
|
|
the temple for his own safety, still he kept his ground,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:10-14">ver. 10-14</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:15-19">ver. 15-19</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
</FONT>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_1"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_2"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_3"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_4"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_5"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_6"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_7"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_9"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Plot of Sanballat, &c.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:5-7"><I>v.</I> 5-7</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_14"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Shemaiah's Plot Defeated.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
I. How basely the enemies managed this temptation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Other prophets there were, and one prophetess, Noadiah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+27:5">Ps. xxvii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
II. See how bravely Nehemiah vanquished this temptation, and came off a
|
|
conqueror.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He immediately resolved not to yield to it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:4">Prov. xxxi. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
2. He was immediately aware of what was the rise of it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<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>
|
|
|
|
3. He humbly begs of God to reckon with them for their base designs
|
|
upon him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:19"><I>ch.</I> v. 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne6_19"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Completion of the Wall.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Nehemiah is here finishing the wall of Jerusalem, and yet still has
|
|
trouble created him by his enemies.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+4:5">Gen. iv. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:2">Ps. cxxvi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
God fighteth for Israel and worketh with them.
|
|
|
|
[2.] To believe that God's work would be perfect. When the 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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+6:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:4">Prov. xxviii. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
|
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC16005.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC16007.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
|
|
|
|
|
|
<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_Nehemiah_VI.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
|
|
<a href="http://biblesnet.com/download.html" target="_blank"><br>
|
|
<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
|
|
<br>
|
|
<A HREF="http://biblesnet.com/contactus.html" target="_blank"><strong>Contact Us </strong></A><br>
|
|
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
</BODY>
|
|
</HTML>
|