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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N E H E M I A H</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We left all hands at work for the building of the wall about Jerusalem.
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But such good work is not wont to be carried on without opposition; now
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here we are told what opposition was given to it, and what methods
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Nehemiah took to forward the work, notwithstanding that opposition.
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I. Their enemies reproached and ridiculed their undertaking, but their
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scoffs they answered with prayers: they heeded them not, but went on
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with their work notwithstanding,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. They formed a bloody design against them, to hinder them by force
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of arms,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:7,8,10-12">ver. 7, 8, 10-12</A>.
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To guard against this Nehemiah prayed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:9">ver. 9</A>),
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set guards
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:13">ver. 13</A>),
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and encouraged them to fight
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:14">ver. 14</A>),
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by which the design was broken
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:15">ver. 15</A>),
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and so the work was carried on with all needful precaution against a
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surprise,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:16-23">ver. 16-23</A>.
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In all this Nehemiah approved himself a man of great wisdom and
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courage, as well as great piety.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ne4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Opposition of Sanballat, &c..</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we
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builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and
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mocked the Jews.
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2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and
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said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves?
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will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they
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revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are
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burned?
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3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite <I>was</I> by him, and he said, Even that
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which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their
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stone wall.
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4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach
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upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of
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captivity:
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5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be
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blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked <I>thee</I> to
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anger before the builders.
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6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together
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unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The spiteful scornful reflection which Sanballat and Tobiah cast
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upon the Jews for their attempt to build the wall about Jerusalem. The
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country rang of it presently; intelligence was brought of it to
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Samaria, that nest of enemies to the Jews and their prosperity; and
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here we are told how they received the tidings.
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1. In heart. They were very angry at the undertaking, and had <I>great
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indignation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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It vexed them that Nehemiah came to seek the welfare of the children of
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Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+2:10"><I>ch.</I> ii. 10</A>);
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but, when they heard of this great undertaking for their good, they
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were out of all patience. They had hitherto pleased themselves with the
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thought that while Jerusalem was unwalled they could swallow it up and
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make themselves masters of it when they pleased; but, if it be walled,
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it will not only be fenced against them, but by degrees become
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formidable to them. The strength and safety of the church are the grief
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and vexation of its enemies.
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2. In word. They despised it, and made it the subject of their
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ridicule. In this they sufficiently displayed their malice; but good
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was brought out of it; for, looking upon it as a foolish undertaking
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that would sink under its own weight, they did not go about to obstruct
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it till it was too late. Let us see with what pride and malice they set
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themselves publicly to banter it.
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(1.) Sanballat speaks with scorn of the workmen: "<I>These feeble
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Jews</I>"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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"what will they do for materials? <I>Will they revive the stones out of
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the rubbish?</I> And what mean they by being so hasty? Do they think to
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make the walling of a city but one day's work, and to keep the feast of
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dedication with sacrifice the next day? Poor silly people! See how
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ridiculous they make themselves!"
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(2.) Tobiah speaks with no less scorn of the work itself. He has his
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jest too, and must show his wit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Profane scoffers sharpen one another. "Sorry work," says he, "they are
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likely to make of it; they themselves will be ashamed of it: <I>If a
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fox go up,</I> not with his subtlety, but with his weight, he <I>will
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break down their stone wall.</I>" Many a good work has been thus looked
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upon with contempt by the <I>proud and haughty scorners.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Nehemiah's humble and devout address to God when he heard of these
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reflections. He had notice brought him of what they said. It is
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probable that they themselves sent him a message to this purport, to
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discourage him, hoping to jeer him out of his attempt; but he did not
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answer these fools according to their folly; he did not upbraid them
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with their weakness, but looked up to God by prayer.</P>
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<P>
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1. He begs of God to take notice of the indignities that were done them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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and in this we are to imitate him: <I>Hear, O our God! for we are
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despised.</I> Note,
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(1.) God's people have often been a despised people, and loaded with
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contempt.
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(2.) God does, and will, hear all the slights that are put upon his
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people, and it is their comfort that he does so and a good reason why
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they should be as though they were deaf,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+38:13,15">Ps. xxxviii. 13, 15</A>.
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"Thou art our God to whom we appeal; our cause needs no more than a
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fair hearing."</P>
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<P>
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2. He begs of God to avenge their cause and turn the reproach upon the
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enemies themselves
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>);
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and this was spoken rather by a spirit of prophecy than by a spirit of
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prayer, and is not to be imitated by us who are taught of Christ to
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<I>pray for</I> those that <I>despitefully use and persecute us.</I>
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Christ himself prayed for those that reproached him: <I>Father, forgive
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them.</I> Nehemiah here prays, <I>Cover not their iniquity.</I> Note,
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(1.) Those that cast contempt on God's people do but prepare
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everlasting shame for themselves.
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(2.) It is a sin from which sinners are seldom recovered. Doubtless
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Nehemiah had reason to think the hearts of those sinners were
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desperately hardened, so that they would never repent of it, else he
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would not have prayed that it might <I>never be blotted out.</I> The
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reason he gives is not, <I>They have abused us,</I> but, <I>They have
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provoked thee,</I> and that <I>before the builders,</I> to whom, it is
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likely, they sent a spiteful message. Note, We should be angry at the
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malice of persecutors, not because it is abusive to us, but because it
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is offensive to God; and on that we may ground an expectation that God
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will appear against it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+74:18,22">Ps. lxxiv. 18, 22</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. The vigour of the builders, notwithstanding these reflections,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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They made such good speed that in a little time they had run up the
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wall to half its height, for <I>the people had a mind to work;</I>
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their hearts were upon it, and they would have it forwarded. Note,
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1. Good work goes on well when people have a mind to it.
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2. The reproaches of enemies should rather quicken us to our duty than
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drive us from it.</P>
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<A NAME="Ne4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_15"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 But it came to pass, <I>that</I> when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and
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the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that
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the walls of Jerusalem were made up, <I>and</I> that the breaches
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began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
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8 And conspired all of them together to come <I>and</I> to fight
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against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
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9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
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against them day and night, because of them.
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10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is
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decayed, and <I>there is</I> much rubbish; so that we are not able to
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build the wall.
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11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see,
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till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause
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the work to cease.
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12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them
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came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye
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shall return unto us <I>they will be upon you.</I>
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13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, <I>and</I>
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on the higher places, I even set the people after their families
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with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
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14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to
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the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of
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them: remember the Lord, <I>which is</I> great and terrible, and fight
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for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and
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your houses.
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15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was
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known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that
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we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The conspiracy which the Jews' enemies formed against them, to stay
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the building by slaying the builders. The conspirators were not only
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Sanballat and Tobiah, but other neighbouring people whom they had drawn
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into the plot. They flattered themselves with a fancy that the work
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would soon stand still of itself; but, when they heard that it went on
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a prospered, they were angry at the Jews for being so hasty to push the
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work forward and angry at themselves for being so slow in opposing it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>They were very wroth. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and
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their wrath, for it was cruel.</I> Nothing would serve but they would
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<I>fight against Jerusalem,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Why, what quarrel had they with the Jews? Had they done them any wrong?
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Or did they design them any? No, they lived peaceably by them; but it
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was merely out of envy and malice; they hated the Jews' piety, and were
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therefore vexed at their prosperity and sought their ruin. Observe,
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1. How unanimous they were: <I>They conspired all of them together,</I>
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though of different interests among themselves, yet one in their
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opposition to the work of God.
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2. How close they were; they said, "<I>They shall not know, neither
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see,</I> till we have them at our mercy." Thus they took crafty
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counsel, and digged deep to hide it from the Lord, and promised
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themselves security and success from the secresy of their management.
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3. How cruel they were: <I>We will come and slay them.</I> If nothing
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less than the murder of the workmen will put a stop to the work, they
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will not stick at that; nay, it is their blood they thirst for, and
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they are glad of any pretence to glut themselves with it.
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4. What the design was and how confident they were of success: it was
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to <I>cause the work to cease</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and this they were confident that they should effect. The hindering of
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good work is that which bad men aim at and promise themselves; but good
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work is God's work, and it shall prosper.</P>
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<P>
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II. The discouragements which the builders themselves laboured under.
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At the very time when the adversaries said, Let us <I>cause the work to
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cease,</I> Judah said, "Let us even let it fall, for we are not able to
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go forward with it,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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They represent the labourers as tired, and the remaining difficulties,
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even of that first part of their work, the removing of the rubbish, as
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insuperable, and therefore they think it advisable to desist for the
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present. Can Judah, that warlike valiant tribe, sneak thus? Active
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leading men have many times as much ado to grapple with the fears of
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their friends as with the terrors of their enemies.</P>
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<P>
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III. The information that was brought to Nehemiah of the enemies'
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designs,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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There were <I>Jews that dwelt by them,</I> in the country, who, though
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they had not zeal enough to bring them to Jerusalem to help their
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brethren in building the wall, yet, having by their situation
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opportunity to discover the enemies' motions, had so much honesty and
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affection to the cause as to give intelligence of them; nay, that their
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intelligence might be the more credited, they came themselves to give
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it, and they said it ten times, repeating it as men in earnest, and
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under a concern, and the report was confirmed by many witnesses. The
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intelligence they gave is expressed abruptly, and finds work for the
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critics to make out the sense of it, which perhaps is designed to
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intimate that they gave this intelligence as men out of breath and in
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confusion, whose very looks would make up the deficiencies of their
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words. I think it may be read, without supplying any thing:
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"<I>Whatever place you turn to, they are against us,</I> so that you
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have need to be upon your guard on all sides," Note, God has many ways
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of bringing to light, and so bringing to nought, the devices and
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designs of his and his church's enemies. Even the cold and feeble Jews
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that contentedly dwell by them shall be made to serve as spies upon
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them; nay, rather than fail, <I>a bird of the air shall carry their
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voice.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. The pious and prudent methods which Nehemiah, hereupon, took to
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baffle the design, and to secure his work and workmen.</P>
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<P>
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1. It is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
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he <I>looked.</I>
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(1.) He looked up, engaged God for him, and put himself and his cause
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under the divine protection
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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<I>We made our prayer unto our God.</I> That was the way of this good
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man, and should be our way; all his cares, all his griefs, all his
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fears, he spread before God, and thereby made himself easy. This was
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the first thing he did; before he used any means, he made his prayer to
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God, for with him we must always begin.
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(2.) He looked about him. Having prayed, he <I>set a watch against
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them.</I> The instructions Christ has given us in our spiritual warfare
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agree with this example,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:41">Matt. xxvi. 41</A>.
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<I>Watch and pray.</I> If we think to secure ourselves by prayer only,
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without watchfulness, we are slothful and tempt God; if by
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watchfulness, without prayer, we are proud and slight God; and, either
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way, we forfeit his protection.</P>
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<P>
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2. Observe,
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(1.) How he posted the guards,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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<I>In the lower places</I> he set them <I>behind the wall,</I> that
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they might annoy the enemy over it, as a breast-work; but <I>in the
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higher places,</I> where the wall was raised to its full height, he set
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them upon it, that from the top of it they might throw down stones or
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darts upon the heads of the assailants: he set them <I>after their
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families,</I> that mutual relation might engage them to mutual
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assistance.
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(2.) How he animated and encouraged the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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He observed even the nobles and rulers themselves, as well as the rest
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of the people, to be in a great consternation upon the intelligence
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that was brought them, and ready to conclude that they were all undone,
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by which their hands were weakened both for work and war, and
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therefore, he endeavours to silence their fears. "Come," says he,
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"<I>be not afraid of them,</I> but behave yourselves valiantly,
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considering,
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[1.] Whom you fight under. You cannot have a better captain:
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<I>Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible;</I> you think your
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enemies <I>great and terrible,</I> but what are they in comparison with
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God, especially in opposition to him? He is great above them to control
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them, and will be terrible to them when he comes to reckon with them."
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Those that with an eye of faith see the church's God to be great and
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terrible will see the church's enemies to be mean and despicable. The
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reigning fear of God is the best antidote against the ensnaring fear of
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man. He that is afraid of <I>a man that shall die forgets the Lord his
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Maker,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+51:12,13">Isa. lxxiv. 12, 13</A>.
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[2.] "Whom you fight for. You cannot have a better cause; you fight for
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<I>your brethren</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:8">Ps. cxxii. 8</A>),
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<I>your sons, and your daughters.</I> All that is dear to you in their
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world lies at stake; therefore <I>behave yourselves valiantly.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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V. The happy disappointment which this gave to the enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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When they found that their design was discovered, and that the Jews
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were upon their guard, they concluded that it was to no purpose to
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attempt any thing, but that <I>God had brought their counsel to
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|
nought.</I> They knew they could not gain their point but by surprise,
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and, if their plot was known, it was quashed. The Jews hereupon
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<I>returned every one to his work,</I> with so much the more
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|
cheerfulness because they saw plainly that God owned it and owned them
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in the doing of it. Note, God's care of our safety should engage and
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encourage us to go on with vigour in our duty. As soon as ever a danger
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is over let us <I>return to our work,</I> and trust God another
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|
time.</P>
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<A NAME="Ne4_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne4_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Precautions of Nehemiah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
|
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And it came to pass from that time forth, <I>that</I> the half of
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|
my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held
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both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons;
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|
and the rulers <I>were</I> behind all the house of Judah.
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17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens,
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|
with those that laded, <I>every one</I> with one of his hands wrought
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|
in the work, and with the other <I>hand</I> held a weapon.
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|
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his
|
|
side, and <I>so</I> builded. And he that sounded the trumpet <I>was</I> by
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|
me.
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|
19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the
|
|
rest of the people, The work <I>is</I> great and large, and we are
|
|
separated upon the wall, one far from another.
|
|
20 In what place <I>therefore</I> ye hear the sound of the trumpet,
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|
resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
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|
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears
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|
from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
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|
22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every
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|
one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night
|
|
they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
|
|
23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men
|
|
of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes,
|
|
<I>saving that</I> every one put them off for washing.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
When the builders had so far reason to think the design of the enemies
|
|
broken <I>as to return to their work,</I> yet they were not so secure
|
|
as to lay down their arms, knowing how restless and unwearied they were
|
|
in their attempts, and that, if one design failed, they would be
|
|
hatching another. Thus must we watch always against our spiritual
|
|
enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be accomplished till our
|
|
work is. See what course Nehemiah took, that the people might hold
|
|
themselves in a readiness, in case there should be an attack.
|
|
|
|
1. While one half were at work, the other half were under their arms,
|
|
holding <I>spears, and shields, and bows,</I> not only for themselves
|
|
but for the labourers too, who would immediately quit their work, and
|
|
betake themselves to their weapons, upon the first alarm,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is probable that they changed services at stated hours, which would
|
|
relieve the fatigue of both, and particularly would be an ease to the
|
|
<I>bearers of burdens,</I> whose <I>strength</I> had <I>decayed</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
while they held the weapons, they were eased and yet not idle. Thus
|
|
dividing their time between the trowels and the spears, they are said
|
|
to <I>work with one hand</I> and hold their weapons <I>with the
|
|
other</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
which cannot be understood literally, for the work would require both
|
|
hands; but it intimates that they were equally employed in both. Thus
|
|
must we work out our salvation with the weapons of our warfare in our
|
|
hand; for in every duty we must expect to meet with opposition from our
|
|
spiritual enemies, against whom we must still be <I>fighting the good
|
|
fight of faith.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. Every builder had a sword by his side
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
which he could carry without hindering his labour. The word of God is
|
|
the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand and
|
|
never to seek, both in our labours and in our conflicts as Christians.
|
|
|
|
3. Care was taken both to get and give early notice of the approach of
|
|
the enemy, in case they should endeavour to surprise them. Nehemiah
|
|
kept a trumpeter always by him to sound an alarm, upon the first
|
|
intimation of danger. The work was large, and the builders were
|
|
dispersed; for in all parts of the wall they were labouring at the same
|
|
time. Nehemiah continually walked round to oversee the work and
|
|
encourage the workmen, and so would have speedy intelligence if the
|
|
enemy made an attack, of which, by sound of trumpet, he would soon give
|
|
notice to all, and they must immediately repair to him with a full
|
|
assurance that their <I>God</I> would <I>fight for them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:18-20"><I>v.</I> 18-20</A>.
|
|
|
|
When they acted as workmen, it was requisite they should be dispersed
|
|
wherever there was work to do; but when as soldiers it was requisite
|
|
they should come into close order, and be found in a body. Thus should
|
|
the labourers in Christ's building be ready to unite against a common
|
|
foe.
|
|
|
|
4. The inhabitants of the villages were ordered to lodge within
|
|
Jerusalem, with their servants, not only that they might be the nearer
|
|
to their work in the morning, but that they might be ready to help in
|
|
case of an attack in the night,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
The strength of a city lies more in its hands than in its walls; secure
|
|
them, and God's blessing upon them, and be secure.
|
|
|
|
5. Nehemiah himself, and all his men, kept closely to their business.
|
|
The spears were held up, with the sight of them to terrify the enemy,
|
|
not only from sun to sun, but from twilight to twilight every day,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus ought we to be always upon our guard against our spiritual
|
|
enemies, not only (as here) while <I>it is light,</I> but when <I>it is
|
|
dark,</I> for they are the <I>rulers of the darkness of this world.</I>
|
|
Nay, so very intent was Nehemiah upon his work, and so fast did he hold
|
|
his servants to it, that while the heat of the business lasted neither
|
|
he himself nor his attendants went into bed, but every night lay and
|
|
slept in their clothes
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+4:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
except that they shifted them now and then, either for cleanliness or
|
|
in a case of ceremonial pollution. It was a sign that their heart was
|
|
upon their work when they could not find time to dress and undress, but
|
|
resolved they would be at all times ready for service. Good work is
|
|
likely to go on successfully when those that labour in it thus make a
|
|
business of it.</P>
|
|
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