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 seen in the next cho.pter. Almost markable that Nehemiah takes no notice of the whole people cnme forwo.rd, and set to the serious charge brought against him, work with ze11,l. So they strengthened their does not say that he had the king's permis- hands for this good work. The original is sion, but rather leaves the "adversaries" to briefer, and more emphatic-" Aml they suppose that he had not. Perhaps he thought strengthened their hands for good." They that to reveal the troth would drive them to em braced the good cause, took the good some desperate attempt, and therefore sup- part, set themselves to work heartily on the pressed it. The God of heaven, he will riuht side. prosper us. Instead of a human, Nehemiah Ver. 19.-Geshem the Arabian, elsewhere claims a Divine sanction for his proceedings. co.lied Gashmu (eh. vi. 6), may have been an He and his brethren will build as servants independent sheikh possessing authority in of the God of heaven. Compare the answer Idumea, or in the desert country adjoining made to Tatnai in Zerubbabel's time-" We upon Ammon ; but it seems quite as likely are the servants of the God of heaven and that he was merely the head of a body of earth, and build the house that was builded Aro.b troops maintained by Sanballat at these many years ago" (Ezra v. 11). Ye Samaria (eh. iv. 7). Sanballat, Tobiah, and he.ve no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Geshem are united so closely, and act so Jerusalem. As the claim of the Samaritans much together (eh. iv. 1-7 ; vi. 1, 2, 6, 12, to interfere in the affairs of the Jews had 14), that it is difficult to suppose them to be been disallowed when they came with an three chieftains residing on three sides of offer of aid (Ezra iv. 2, 3), so now, when J udiea, the north, the east, aml the south, their interference is hostile in character, it merely holding diplomatic intercourse with is still more fiercely and indignantly rejected. each other, which is the ordinary idea. Note They are told that they have no part in that Tobiah is present with Sanballat in Jerusalem, no right, not even so much as a Samaria on one occasion (eh. iv. 3), and that place in the recollections of the inhabitants. Geshem and Sanballat propose a joint inter- Their interference is officious, impertinent- view with Nehemiah ou o.nother (eh. vi. 2). what have they to do with Nehemiah, or the They laughed us to scorn, and said. Either Israelites, or Jerusalem! Let them be con- by messengers, like Sennacherib (2 Kings tent to manage the affairs of their own xviii. 17-35), or by a formal written com- idolatrous community, and not trouble the munication, as Ewald supposes(' History of worshippers of the true God. N chemiah Israel,' vol. v. p. 154, E. Tr. ). Will ye avoids opposition by concealment as long as rebel 1 Compare eh. vi. 6 ; and see also he can ; but when opposition nevertheless Ezra iv. 12-16. Had Artaxerxes not appears, he meets it with defiance.
HOMILETICS. Vera. 9-20.-PreparationjQr a great work. A record of the first steps taken by Nehemiah in the execution of his commission. I. His JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (vers. 9, 11 ). He no doubt lost no time in setting out ; and he made the journey with suitable dignity, and in safety, owing to the escort granted by the king, and the obedience of the "governors beyond the river" to " the king's letters." II. BIB PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION (vers. 12 -15). • This was -1. Peraonal. He would see with bis own eyes the condition of the wall, so as to judge of the practicability of his plan for restoring it. 2. Secret. Perhaps that foes without might not be able to binder him, nor their partisans within inform them of his move- ments. 3. Thorough. Notwithstanding the difficulty of completing it. In all enterprises careful inquiry must precede action if they are to prosper. Our Lord enjoins those who are thinking of becoming his disciples to " count the cost; " and a similar previous consideration is necessary in endeavours to advance his kingdom. Whoever would revive, reform, or restore, must first ascertain the existing state o.f things, and reckon up bis resources for effecting bis object. "The knowledge o.E a disease is half its cure.'' Rnsh zeal is likely to end in fo.ilure. Only we must take heed of putting consideration in the place of action; of "thinking about" decision in r~ligion instead of deci<ling ; of "considering" how we can do good until the opportunity of doing it is gone. o2 20 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [CH, II, 9-20.