PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah
George Rawlinson [1812-1902] · 132,821 words · 151 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, •DITED BT TBll VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DBill OF GLOUOIIBTBB i AND BY TRB REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. NEHEMIAH. ~,p.osifi.on Bv REV. GEORGE RAWLINSON, M.A., OAldDRN l'llOFltliSOR OJ' ANOIBNT HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ODOBD ; A!fl> OANON OF OANTEBBtrll.Y. J.omiletits BY REV. …
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Jewish state, containing in it nothing miraculous, nothing particularly exciting or extraordinary. The Jewish community is in a depressed condition; and though external adversaries are resisted, and, on the whole, resisted with suc- cess, no great triumph is achieved, no very remarkable deliverance effected. At the sam…
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and asked for an explanation. Nehemiah upon this unbosomed himself, and :finding the king sympathetic, obtained leave of absence from the court, an appointment to be governor of Jerusalem, and permission to rebuild the wall, to restore the temple fortress, and to repair the residence of the governor, of which he wa…
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stages of their labour; whose shadows had been their daily and nightly com- panions for such weary weeks of watching and working. The Levites came up from their country districts, with their full array of the musical instruments which still bore the name of their royal inventor; the minstrels, too, were summoned from t…
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Part III. (cbs. xi., xii. 1-26). Enlargement of the population of Jerusalem; number of the adult male inhabitants, and namea of the chiefs. Various lists of priests and Levites at different periods. Subdivisions. Section 1 (eh. xi. 1, 2). Artificial enlargement of the population of Jerusalem. Section 2 (eh. :xi. 3-1…
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Ver. 1.-The words of Nehemiah the Ver. 4,-When I hee.rd these things, I se.t aon of He.cha.lia.h. Compare Jer. i. l ; down e.nd wept. The revelAtion of tho Hosea i. 2; Amos i. 1, &c. No other his- e.ctue.l condition of Jerusalem came upon ton'cal book commences in this manner, and Nehemiah with a shock. Ho had perha…
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tlrn result of the people's sins, and in those stantly spoken of 1\8 effected "with a mighty sins nre included his own, nnd those of his ~and and w~th an outstretched arm" (Dent. ancestors. His own ml\y nut have been lX, 29 ; XXVI. 8, &c.). vory grievous, but those of his fathers weigh Ver. 11.-Prosper thy servant this…
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for his Church in the care he awakens in the hearts of such as are able to render her nluable service. Especially let us be grateful for and to the Lord Jesus, who from an incalculably loftier position than Nehemiah's regarded us in "our low estate" with loYe and pity, and came down to save us by the sacrifice of himse…
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and under circumstnnces so impressive. Observe, thnt in seeking God'A mercy towards sinners we ought ever to acknowledge their ill deserts, and his justice in the punishment of their sins. IV. Powerful PLEAS. 1. The name of God (ver. 5). The repreRentation of God with which he commences is virtually a plea. "Thou hast…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Piety in a palace. I. PIETY and POSITION. "As I was in Shuslmn the pala0e." Piety tends to prosperity ; it inculcates habits favourable to advancement; it imparts graces calculated to attract. Goodness is often rewarded ; it will dwell in a better palace in the life to come. II…
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Nehemiah comes from the king's presence to see his countrymen from JeruRalem. Under the righteous government of God we shall find that the same virtues wil\ conduct us to sufficiency, contentment, honour, prosperity. III. WE HAVE ONE UNFAILING RESOURCE IN TIME OF TROUBLE (vers. 2, 3). Evil tidings come to Nehemiah in …
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ashamed of his tears. . To the true bee.rt !he co_nditi~n of the_ Church is e. per~onal sorrow _or a ~ersonal Joy. 5. The practical, aim mmgled WJ.th the supplications. The faith which prays is the fe.ith which works. When we ask God for help we sh ou )<l be ready for service. Nehemie.h did not satisfy himself with wee…
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EXPOSITION. waited in the confident hope that God's pro- CHAPTER II. vidence would so order events, that some Ver. 1.-In the month NiBBn. The fourth occasion would arise whereof he might take month after Chisleu, corresponding nearly advantaue. In the twentieth year of Arta- to our Apl'il. How it came about that xer…
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judgnrnnt of later ages. Historv puts him Ver. 6. -The queen. It appears from bef~re us as a weak mon1trch, one who could Ctesi,)S (' Exe. Pers.,'§ 44) that Artaxerxcs compromise the royal diguity by me.king Longuuanus had but one legitimate wife-I\ t:.erms with a revolted subject, while he dis- certain Damaspia. No…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-8.-Prauer aMwered. Three or four months had passed since Nehemiah first heard of the distressed condition of his brethren at Jerusalem, and began to pro.y for them, and that he might be permitted to visit and relieve them. Solon" the answer to bis prayer was delayed. But he doubtless continued to p…
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Ver. 2.-Sorrow and if'8 Consoler. "This is nothing else but sorrow of heart." I. SORROW OF HEART MAY CO-EXIST WITH EXTERNAL WELL-BEING. Nehemiah was healthy, honoured, rich, yet sad. So are many in similar circumstances. The sorrows of sympathy, pntriotis~, and pi~ty, as. Nehemiah's were; those of penitence or remo…
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Ver. 4.-EjaculatoriJ prayer. "So I prayed to the God of heaven." Nehemiah saddened by the report he had received of the condition of the Jews who ha<l returned to their land, had formed a purpose to visit them, that he might encourage them, and take the lead in fortifying the city, and putting affairs into a more hopef…
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Ver. 8.-Success ascribed t.o God. " And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." N ehemiab, like Ezra before him (Ezra vii. 6), ascribes the success of bis application to the king to the "good band of God ; " which had, indeed, been conspicuous. The circumstances which bad paved the way fo…
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rnieh's receiving the tidings and his appeal to Artaxerxes. Whence this delay? Un- doubtedly the actual or '\"irtual inaccessibility of the king. Either he was not called to the royal presence, or the sovereign was obviously not in the mood. How unlike this to the ever-open throne of grace to which at any time, and …
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n commission, nll required at that moment to be sustained. He "prayed to the Goel of henven." 'rhe answer was immediately sent, in the courage, the wisdom the self- devotion, the simplicity of tho cupbearer in the presence of an Eastern de;pot ask- ing to be intrueted with power that he might use 1t for God and his p…
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Ver. 11.-1 . . . was there three days. of the streets" (' Stanley,' 1. s. c.); situated Compe.re Ezra viii 32. After the long towards the middle of the southern wall. journey, three days of rest were necessary. Ver. 14.-The gate of the fountain. A STEPS TAKEN BY NEHEMIAH PRELIMINARY gate _near the pool of Siloe.m (w…
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engage he11,rtily in the work, which must be gr_anted permission, Nehemiah's proceedings nccomplished, if it woe to be accomplished might naturally have borne this interpreta- 11,t all, by something like o. burst of enthu- tion. sinsm, Such o. burst he evokes, and its Ver. 20.-Then anawered I. It is re- result is s…
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III. HIS SUOCESSFUL APPEAL 'l'O THE PEOPLE. Notwithstanding the ruinous con- dition of the wall, and the feebleness of the Jews-I. He was confident and resolute him8elf. Assured that the work could be done, and prepared to do his part and more. 2: He infused his ~pirit into the people. (~) He appealed to all_ cla~se…
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interest ourselves in the good of the Church, and eo of the world, and do all we can to promote it. II. IT IS ESPECJAJ,LY INCUMBENT ON THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL TALENTS. All talents can find employment in this service ; all should be consecrated to it. The more we have of faculty and aptitude, the more we are bound to em…
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Ver. 18.-Mutual encouragement. "And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work." Narrates the effect produced on all classes at Jerusalem by Nehemiah's address. I. WHAT MOVED THEM. 1. There was e. plain need for energetic and united action, 2. They had a good leader, Compet…
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8. Rejection of nlien interference. This took the form of opposition in the cnsc of Banballnt, &c. Yet Neheminh's language seems to imply that these objectorn would have co-operated, if allowed to do so, on terms acceptable to them. " We his ser- vants will arise and build; but ye have no portion," &c. So it was at lea…
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that we are enriched by one another's prosperity. 11 We are members one of another" and_ should rejoice in one another's ~elfare. This is so with (1) neighbouring nations; (2) sister Churches; (3) capital and labour; (4) Tarious contemporary industries. The more one prospers, the more another will prosper too. If a man…
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I. THE PREBENOE OF A OREAT WORK AWAITINO us. "So I came to Jerusalem" (ver. 11). There nre to-day mrmy Churches, societies, interests, more or less dear to God, which are "in distress" (ver. 17), urgently needing restoration and defence, that they be not open to attack, and that they may" be no more a reproach" (ver. 1…
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Vers. 19, 20.-Reli,gi,on and ri,dicuk. I. That religion is often made the subject of RIDICULE. "They laughed us to scorn.'' 1. Its doctrines are ridiculed. Men laugh at the supernatural. 2. Its enterprise is ridiculed. Men scorn the idea of a world-\\;de moral conquest. 3. Its agencies are ridiculed. "Is not this the c…
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description which is full of life and activity. from the modern "DamMCUs gate." It ie Tho pa.sse.ge is invaluable to the topographer, thought to 1:>e so called from being the gate nnd though not resolving nil the difficnlties through which fish were brought in from with which he meets in his nttempts to the Jordan and …
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A. Clnrke. Others translate-" the men of Jerusalem at the distance of some nine or 9i~eo~ ~nd Mizpah, who belonged to the ten miles. It is mentioned in Josh. xv. 34 Junsd1cbon of the governor Rcross the river." as e. city of Judah, but was not a place of But this can scarcely have been the fact, much importa~ce. We …
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hitherto been discovered. Hure too was the . Ver.. 21.-Meremoth's first piece is men- pool that we.a made by Hezekiah when he tioned m ver. 4. The second piece cannot was about to be besiogod by Sennacherib have been very long, since it only extended (2 Chron. xxxii. 30 ; Isa. xxii. 9-11). The along a portion of the…
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Thi~ we.s e. gat.e in the cRStern wall (Jer. been mentioned (ver. 13) 1tmong the leaders xx:.u. 40) through which horses could enter of the working p1trties, e.nd also e. Ha.nania.h the city.. It probably adjoined the old (ver. 8) ; but they were not coupled together ; palace, being at or nee.r the "turning of the a…
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euch willing order and subordinfltion, which cannot be secured because of the pride, eelf-will, jeulouey, &c. of those wao should co-operate. 4. With religious services (var. 1). The high priest and hie fellow-priests led the way, and "sanctified" (dedicated) their work to God; most likely having regard, in this solemn…
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Ver. 12.-Family zeal in good work. "He and his daughters." Some take "daughters" here in the sense which it bears in eh. xi. 25, 27, viz., "villages" (regarded as the daughters of the town or district to which they belong), and would read," it" (i. e. the half-part, or district, of Jerusalem)" and its villages." If,…
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the congregation with which he worships, the city or tow11, tho country, the Church at largP, the world. II. REASONS FOR ADOPTmG THIS ORDER. 1. That which is nearest is usually best known. It.ls needs can be best perceived, and how to meet them. 2. It appeals most powerfully to our hearts. Partly because best known. T…
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cling the city of God with walls. The account of their building in this chapter reminrls us- I. THAT ALL WORK WE DO FOR GOD IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT AND IS RF.CORDED BY HIM. We should hardly have expected, judging antecedently, that all these names would have appeared in the sacred Scriptures with the posts assigned …
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EXPOSITION. act as Rehum and Shimshai had acted in the CHAPTER IV. time of the Pseudo-Smerdis, and address a OPEN OPPOSITION OFFERED TO THE WORK letter to the king informing him of Nehe• BY SANBALLAT A.ND TOBI.AH, AND .ARRANGE- miah's proceedings, and recommending that ME1''TS MADE BY NEIIBMI.AH TO MEET IT (eh. a …
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tnko tho working pnrties by Bllrprise, e.nd to hostility which appears in Nehemiah's effect their complete destruction (ibid. ver. narrative, by the weakness of Persia in 11). But Nehemiah, having lenrnt what these parts, and the consequent power of the native races to act pretty much as they wcts intended, made pr…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-6.-Rui.icule of a good work. Sanballat and his friends had at first thought it impossible that Nehemiah would attempt to repair and restore the wall of Jerusalem. But when they found that the work was actually begun, and making good progress, their anger was equalled only by their astonishment, …
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fnvour nnd 11ssist1mce of which the world tnkes little account, and thus of good success. 4. Stendy, persevering toil. All the more vigorous because of the opposi- tion. Thus Christinn workers will Jive down contempt, even if, as in this case, it give pince to violent hostility. It may, however, be fonowed by applause …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-6.-Derisi,on and devotwn. Not the first nor the last instance was this one here recorded of- I. DEVOTION ASSAILED BY DERISION (vers. 1-3). Sanballat and Tobiah were con- temptuously angry when they heard that the Jews had actually begun to build: they "took great indignation, a…
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EXPOSITION. Ver. 7.-It came to pass, that when "Arabians II here mentioned are the descenJ, BBnbBllBt, and Tobiah, at Samaria, and the ants of a colony which Sargon planted in ArabiBns, and the Ammonites, and the Samaria itself. This, of course, is possible ; Ashdodites, in their respective residences, but they may pe…
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words in the so.me wo.y, but explo.in the tenn "water" difforently, of a natural I the text as unsound, and propose emenda- tions. None, however, that has as yet been wo.nt (Ewo.ld, Stanley) ; while many regard proposed is satisfactory. HOMILETICS. Vere. 7-15.-Armed oppoa-itwn. Ridicule failing and the work progres…
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Yers. 16-23.-Armed workers. The enemies of the Jews, who meditated an attack upon them, finding that they were aware of their design and well prepared to receive them, withdrew their forces, and the work of restoring the wall went on again. Nehe- miah, however, thought it necessary that the people should be prepared…
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II. THEIR RELATION TO EACH OTHER, 1. They are mutually helpful. Fighting or r?11din_ese .~or it, renders_ b~ildin~ poeeibl_e. If i~fidelity or sin get _the upper hanr( "ed1fication _ceases.. Bmldmg a!de fighting:. Give~ etre~gt_h for _,t, supplies with strongest mot.1vea to 1t. He who 1a well "bmlt up" m Chnstian faith…
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afraid" (vcr. 14). o. Religious. "Remember the Lord" (ver. 14). 6. Self- denying (ver. 23).-E. Vors. 1-23. -This description of the building of the wall of Jerusalem may bo tnkon as representing the life of the Church militant. The chief points are these :- I. THE SPIRl'1' which pervades and actuates it. 11 The peop…
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poverty were three : -1. Over-population recourse to persuasion, argument, nnd per (wr. 2) ; 2. A recent famine (ver. 3) ; and, sonal influence. He therefore, first of 1tl1 1 3. The weight of taxation, arising from the spoke to the "nobles," who were the money- large amount annually demanded from the lenders, rebuked t…
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J udrea wo.s 1i1thlo to fo.minos a.bout this time So the Vulgate, and most commentators ; appears from Haggai i. 6, 9-11; ii. 16-19. but Bert~ea.u _has sho~ that the expression Ver. 4.-The king's tribute. Judrea, like used, which IS peculiar to Nehemiah can- other Persinn provincos, had to pay a tribute, not have this…
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yonr hrrthren i Will :re not cleal kindly illegally received on tho corn and money end gently with them! Beoa.uae of the re- borrowed of them, but to restoro the forfeited proa.oh of the heathen our enemies. If the lands and houses, which must have been ot merr fear of God, the desire to escape bis far greater value…
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cornplninors were of three classes. Some who were originally poor found themselves. with large families, unable to obtain food for them on account of the pressure of the times. They desired that corn might be distributed e.mong them. Others had borrowed money to obtain food, and given up their lands and houses in pledg…
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11hips. (1) Divine. They ha_ve the same Ma½er (Job xx.xi. 15; Prov. xxii. 2), the !Same Redeemer. Equally as smners need salvation. (2) Human. The family ties as real and valuable. "Our children as their children." Are similarly related to the i,tate, and of equal worth to it. If Christians, are alike children of Go…
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Efforts for their reformntion. 3. The discovery and application of remedies for the mischief they have wrought, III. ITs DEST PRESERVATIVE FROM EVIL. Reflection before acting. "I consulted with myself." No passion more demands self-control, that it run not to excess, nor hurry into unwise and sinful words and deeds. A…
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Ver. 13.-Promise-keeping. "And the people did according to this promise." Nehemiah wrote this, we may be sure, with peculiar satisfaction. It would be well if the history of all promises of amendment, &c. could be thus concluded. But it is far otherwise. Men often " say and do not." Even vows made to God in secret …
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mny Rometimee have cuuee for protest against injustice. 5. Poverty is experienCf:rl by the people o.E God who are engaged in holy toils. II. •r,rn RICH. 1. The rich must not take undue advantage of calamitous circum- etimces. "Because of the dearth" (ver. 3). 2. The rich must not be inconsiderate. "Yet now our flesh i…
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Vers. 1-19.-.Anexample of successful act,itoity for God. A great practical reform- ation carried out by a religious ruler on the highest religious principles, and by the strength of religious character. No more difficult task than to deal successfully with such circumstances in which men's selfish interests were inv…
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EXPOSITION. GENERAL ACCOUNT OF NEHEMIAH'S vol. v. p. 150, E. Tr. ). However this may 0OVERNMENT (vers. 14 - 19). Having have been, be certainly disbursed large sums given this account of the internal difficulties of money in Jerusalem, and must have done which threatened to put a stop to the build- something to allevi…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 14-19.-.An example of disinterestedne,ss. In contrast with the selfishness of others Nehemiah sets his own generous conduct. I. Hrs NOBLE CONDUCT. 1. He forewent the usual allowances to the govemor, for twelve years ruling without charge for his services (vere. 14, 15). 2. He restrained those under …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers: 14-19.-Self-regard and magnanimity. In each one of these verses N ehem1ah makes a personal reference. He, the writer, is the theme of his narrative. He writes of himself more than is customary with the sacred authors. We con- sider- 1. THE SELF-REGARD WHICH IS NOT SELFISHNESS. Th…
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which was sure to come to the ears of CHAPTER VI. Artaxerxes, and would bring the Jews into SECRET PROCEEDINGS OF SANBALLAT AND trouble. An open letter on a delicate subject HIS FRIENDS TO HINDER THE BUILDING OF is in the East an insult, and this step of rIIE WALL, AND THEIR FAILURE. THE WALL Sanballat's could only …
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.