The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 38

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 stop should be put to them (see Ezra iv. iv.). It would seem that Sanballat and his 11-22). But probably they had by this friends, when they first heard that the wall time become aware that Artaxerxes was privy was actually being restored, the working to the proceedings of his cupbea.rer, and would parties formed, and the work taken in hand, not easily be induced to interfere with them. could scarcely bring themselves to believe it. The letter to Asaph which Nehemiah had "What! These feeble Jews undertake so obtained (eh. ii. 8) mast have been delivered heavy a task, attempt a work that must to him, and would become known ; the fact occupy so long a time, and for which they that the king had sanctioned tho restoration had not even the necessary materials! (eh. iv. of the wall would be apparent; and all hope 2). Impossible ! Such a wall as they could of a check from this quarter, if it ever build would be so weak, that if a fox tried to existed, would be swept away. Besides, at get over it he would break it down" (ver. the rate at which the work was progressing 3). Bat when, despite their scoffs, the work- under Nehemiah's skilful arrangements, it ing parties laboured steadily, and the whole would be accomplished before the court could wall was brought to half the intended height be communicated with, unless other eteps (ver. 6), and the gaps made in it by the were taken. Accordingly, it was resolved to Babylonians were filled up (ver. 7), they stop the building by main force. Sanballat changed their tone, admitted the seriousness and Tobiah, his A.mmonite hanger-on, en• of the undertaking, and the probability that tered into a league with the neighbouring it would succeed unless steps were taken to peoples, the Philistines of Ashdod, the prevent it. The natural course to pursue, if Ammonites, and some Arab tribe or tribes, they really believed that rebellion was in- and agrf.Ad with them that a conjoint attack tended (eh. ii. 19), or that the permission of should be made upon Jerusalem by a. con- Artaxerxes had not been obtained, was to federate army (eh. iii. 7, 8). It was hoped to CII, IV. 1-6.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 37