Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Nehemiah Chapter 4
Overview
Neh 4:1, While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work; Neh 4:7, Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch; Neh 4:13, He arms the labourers; Neh 4:19, and gives military precepts.
Sanballat: Neh 2:10, Neh 2:19; Ezr 4:1-5; Act 5:17
mocked: Psa 35:15, Psa 35:16, Psa 44:13, Psa 44:14; Mat 27:29; Heb 11:36
feeble: Sa1 14:11, Sa1 14:12, Sa1 17:43, Sa1 17:44; Zac 12:8; Co1 1:27
fortify themselves: Heb. leave to themselves
sacrifice: Neh 12:27, Neh 12:43
revive: Neh 4:10; Eze 37:3-13; Hab 3:2
Tobiah: Neh 2:10, Neh 2:19, Neh 6:1; Kg1 20:10, Kg1 20:18; Kg2 18:23
despised: Heb. despite
turn: Sa1 17:26; Psa 79:12; Pro 3:34; Hos 12:14
cover not: Psa 59:5-13, Psa 69:27, Psa 109:14; Jer 18:23; Ti2 4:14
their sin: Psa 51:1, Psa 51:9; Isa 43:25, Isa 44:22
before the builders: Isa 36:11, Isa 36:12
and all the wall: That is, the whole circuit of the wall was completed unto half the intended height.
for the people: The original is very emphatic, wyhee laiv leam laasoth, "for the people had a heart to work." Their heart was engaged in it, and they went about it cheerfully and vigorously.
had a mind: Neh 6:15; Ch1 29:3, Ch1 29:14, Ch1 29:17, Ch1 29:18; Ch2 29:36; Psa 110:3; Co2 8:16, Co2 8:17; Phi 2:13; Heb 13:21
Sanballat: Neh 4:1, Neh 2:10, Neh 2:19
the Ammonites: Jdg 10:7-18, 11:12-40; Sa1 11:2; Sa2 10:1-5; Kg2 24:2; Ch2 20:1; Eze 25:3-7; Amo 1:13
Ashdodites: Neh 13:23, Neh 13:24; Sa1 5:1, Sa1 5:2; Ch2 26:6-8; Jer 25:20; Amo 1:8, Amo 3:9; Zac 9:5, Zac 9:6
heard: Ezr 4:4-16, Ezr 5:8
were made up: Heb. ascended
then: Gen 3:15; Act 4:17, Act 4:18, Act 5:33; Rev 12:12, Rev 12:13, Rev 12:17
all: Psa 2:1-3, Psa 83:3-11; Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10; Act 23:12, Act 23:13
hinder it: Heb. make an error to it, Jer 20:10
Nevertheless: Neh 4:11; Gen 32:9-12, Gen 32:28; Kg2 19:14-19; Psa 50:15, Psa 55:16-22; Luk 6:11, Luk 6:12; Act 4:24-30
set a watch: Mat 26:41; Luk 21:36; Pe1 5:8
The strength: Num 13:31, Num 32:9; Psa 11:1, Psa 11:2; Hag 1:2
They shall not: Judg. 20:29-48; Sa2 17:2; Psa 56:6; Isa 47:11; Act 23:12, Act 23:21; Th1 5:2
ten times: Gen 31:7, Gen 31:41; Num 14:22; Job 19:3
From all places: etc. or, That from all places ye must return to us
ye shall return: Houbigant, Michaelis, and Dathe contend, that instead of tashoovoo, "ye shall return," we should read chashevoo, "they designed.
Therefore: Gen 32:13-20; Ch2 32:2-8; Psa 112:5; Mat 10:16; Co1 14:20
in the lower places: Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc. their swords. Neh 4:17, Neh 4:18; Sol 3:7, Sol 3:8; Eph 6:11-20
Be ye not afraid, Num 14:9; Deu 1:21, Deu 1:29, Deu 1:30, Deu 20:3, Deu 20:4; Jos 1:9; Ch2 20:15-17, Ch2 32:7; Psa 27:1, Psa 46:11; Isa 41:10-14; Mat 10:28; Heb 13:6
remember: Psa 20:7, Psa 77:10-20, Psa 143:5; Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13, Isa 63:11-13
great: Neh 1:5; Deu 10:17; Job 37:22; Psa 65:5, Psa 66:3, Psa 66:5; Isa 64:1-3; Nah 1:2-7; Heb 12:20, Heb 12:21, Heb 12:28, Heb 12:29
fight: Sa2 10:12
God: Sa2 15:31, Sa2 17:14; Job 5:12, Job 5:13; Psa 33:10, Psa 33:11; Pro 21:30; Isa 8:10; Isa 44:25; Lam 3:37, Lam 3:38; Co1 3:19, Co1 3:20
every one: Mar 13:34; Rom 12:11; Th1 4:11
my servants: Neh 4:23, Neh 5:15, Neh 5:16; Psa 101:6
and the other half: This is no unusual thing in Palestine, even at the present day; people sowing their seed are often attended by armed men, to prevent the Arabs from robbing them of it.
habergeons: Habergeon, from the Teutonic hals, the neck, and bergen, to cover, defend, may be considered as signifying a breast-plate, though the Franco-Gallic hautbergon signifies a coat of mail; the original shiryon, we have already seen, denotes a corslet.
bare burdens: Neh 4:10
every one: That is, he had his arms at hand; and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. The builders could not possibly have made any progress, if they had literally held a weapon in one of their hands; but the expression is evidently figurative, implying that every man was a much a soldier as a builder.
with one: Dan 9:25; Co1 9:12, Co1 16:9, Co1 16:13; Co2 6:7; Eph 6:11-20; Phi 1:28; Ti2 2:3; Ti2 4:7
by his side: Heb. on his loins
he that sounded: Num 10:9; Ch2 13:12-17
our God: Exo 14:14, Exo 14:25; Deu 1:30, Deu 3:22, Deu 20:4; Jos 23:10; Zac 14:3
So we: Co1 15:10, Co1 15:58; Gal 6:9; Col 1:29
So neither I: Neh 5:16, Neh 7:2; Jdg 9:48; Co1 15:10
saving that: etc. or, every one went with his weapon for water, Jdg 5:11; The original of this obscure clause is ish shilcho hammayim, which is rendered by Montanus, vir missile suum aquas, "a man his dart to the waters," of which it is difficult to make sense. It is wholly omitted by the LXX; and one of De Rossi's manuscripts reads, meshallachah al hammayim, "in order to send them to the water.