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 preparations to meet pleased-even to the extent of making war nncl repulse the nssnilants. He began by one upon another. Will they fortify them- setting a. watch dD.y nnd night (ver. 9) on selves 1 No other rendering is tenable. the side on which the attD.ck was expected. Ewald ('History of Israel,' vol. iii. p. 154 When an assault seemed imminent, he note 5) defends it successfully. Will the:y se.crillce 1 Will they make an end in a stopped the work, and drew up the whole de.y 1 The meaning seems to be, "Will people in battle e.rre.y, with swords, spears, they begin and make an end in a day ?" and bows, behind the wall, but in con- It is assumed that they will begin by offer- spicuous places, so that they could be seen ing a sacrifice to inaugurate their work. from a distance, and in this e.ttitude awaited Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which a.re burned 1 Rather, the enemy (ver. 13). The result was that "Will they revive the burnt stones (the no e.ctual assault was delivered. Sanballat stones that are burned) out of the heaps of and his allies, when they found such pre- the rubbish 1" Will they do what is im- parations made to receive them, came to possible-solidify and make into real stone the conclusion that discretion was the better the calcined and crumbling blocks which are all that they will find in the heaps of part of valour, and drew off without pro- rubbish 1 If not, how are they to procure ceeding to blows (ver. 15). The work was material 1 then resumed, but under additional precau- Ver. 3.-Tobie.h the Ammonite was by tions. The labourers were compelled to him. The presence of Tobiah on this occa- work either with a weapon in one hand, or sion, before the alliance was made with the Ammonites (ver. 8), is a strong indication at the least with a sword at their side (vers. that his position was not one of independent 17, 18). Nehemiah's private attendants authority, but of dependence upon San- were armed e.nd formed into two bands, one ballat. There is nothlng to show that he of which worked on the we.11, while the other was more than e. favourite sl.tve of the kept guard, and held the arms, offensive Samaritan governor. A fox. Or, "ajackal," and defensive, of their fellow-servants (ver. which would be more likely than a fox to stray over a ruined wall into a town. 16). At night the working parties retired Ver. 4.-Hee.r, 0 our God. Compare to rest within the city, but Nehemiah him- Ezra's parenthetic burst of thanksgiving self, his brothers, his servants, and his body- (Ezra vii 27, 28}. That which in Ezra was guard, remained outside, keeping watch by a sudden impulse has become a settled turns, and sleeping in their clothes, until the habit with Nehemiah (comp. eh. v. 19 ; vi. 9, 14; xiii 14, 22, 29, 31). Tum their wall was finished (vers. 22, 23}. reproach upon their own head. The im- Ver. 2. -llefore hie brethren. By "his precations of Nehemiah are no pattern to brethren" would seem to be meant his chief Christians, any more than are those of the counsellors-probably Tobiah among them. Psalmists (Ps. lxix. 22-28 : lx.xi.x. 12 ; cix. The army of Samaria. Some understand by 6-20. &c.) ; but it cannot be denied that this a Persian garrison, stationed in Samaria they are imprecations. Before men were under its own commander, with which taught to "love their enemies," and "bleiis Sanballat had influence (Ewald, 'History those that cursed them" (Matt. v. H), they of Israel,' vol. v. p. 163), but there is no gave vent to their natural feelings of anger real ground for such a supposition. Ps. and indignation by the utterance of male- lxxxiii. belongs probably to David's time ; dictions. Nehemiah's spirit was hot and and as Samaria had doubtless its own native hasty ; and as he records of himself (eh. force of armed citizens, who were Sanballat's xiii. 25} that he "cursed" certain Jews subjects, it is quite unnecessary to suppose who had taken foreign wives, so it is not to that he addressed himself to cmy other be wondered nt the.t he uttered impreca- •' army " than this. The Persians would tions against his persistent enemies. maintain a force in Damascus, but scarcely Ver. 5.-Cover not their iniquity, &c. in Snmaria ; and Persian soldiers, had there Some of David's imprecations are very beeu nny in that city, would havo been similar (Ps. cix. 7, 14, 15, &c.), ns also some more likely to support a royal cupbearer of Jeremiah's (Jer. xviii. 23). They have than a petty governor with no influence at provoked thee to anger before the builders. eourt. We can really only explain the dis- It is not as if they had merely " tho1t(1kt turbed stn te of things a.nu npproach to open scorn " of thee or insulted thee before one 38 TltE BOOK OF NElIEMIAH. (cu. 1v. 1-8,
or two. They lulve uttered their insult soon all the wall wu joined together unto publicly, so thllt it is known to the whole the half thereof- the whole continuoua body of the builders. Therefore they de- line of w&ll was completed to hlllf the con- 11erve not to be forgiven. templ&ted height. For the people had a Ver. 6.-80 built we the wall. Rather, mind to work. Literally, " there wns a "and we (still) built the wall." Insults heart to the people to work." They wrought and gibes had no effect on us - did not llS we should s&y, "with a will "-they had touch us. Despite of them we steadily kept their heart in the work. Insult and gibe on our building, and the result was that rather stimulated than daunted them.