Nehemiah 4

Opposition to the Work

1 1 Now when q Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of r Samaria, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? 2 Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?" 3 q Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building - s if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!" 4 t Hear, O our God, for we are despised. u Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 v Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7 3 But when q Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 w And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

10 In Judah it was said, 4 "The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall." 11 And our enemies said, "They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work." 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, "You must return to us." 5 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, x "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, y who is great and awesome, z and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

The Work Resumes

15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us a and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and b coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to c the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. d Our God will fight for us."

21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, "Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day." 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; e each kept his weapon at his right hand. 6

  1. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:7
    But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.
    Nehemiah 2:10
    But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
    Nehemiah 2:19
    But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 16:24
    He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
  3. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:1
    Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
  4. Cross References
    Lamentations 5:18
    For Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 123:3 - 4
    Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 79:12
    Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 69:27 - 28
    Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.
    Psalms 109:14 - 15
    May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
    Jeremiah 18:23
    Yet you, O Lord, know all their plotting to kill me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger.
  8. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:1
    Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 83:3 - 5
    They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 14:9
    Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.
    Deuteronomy 1:29
    Then I said to you, 'Do not be in dread or afraid of them.
  11. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:21
    You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
  12. Cross References
    2 Samuel 10:12
    Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.
  13. Cross References
    Job 5:12
    He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
  14. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 26:14
    And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.
  15. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:14
    And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 14:14
    The Lord will fight for you, and you have only ...
    Exodus 14:25
    Clogging their chariot wheels so that they drov...
    Deuteronomy 1:30
    The Lord your God who goes before you will hims...
    Deuteronomy 3:22
    You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord you...
    Deuteronomy 20:4
    For the Lord your God is he who goes with you t...
    Joshua 23:10
    One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since...
  17. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:17
    Who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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