Commentary for Nehemiah 4:20

was repaired Heb. עָלְתָה אָרוּכָה, [lit. attained a cure,] that the wall was built.

repaired A [word having the] meaning of bandaging and healing.

that the people who were exposed had commenced to be closed in that the people of the city, who had heretofore been exposed without a wall, were now closed in by the building of the wall.

and to wreak destruction therein to wreak upon the building of the wall ruin and destruction. It is like (Isa. 32:5): “...and to speak destructively (תּוֹעָה) about the Lord.”

over them over the builders.

because of them because of the enemies.

And Judea said So were the people of Judea saying and complaining.

The porter’s strength has failed Those who bear and load the stones and the wood for the building of the wall have failed in their strength, for they have no more strength to build because of the enemies.

and there is much earth There is still much mud and clay to place into the wall, meaning that we still have much work, but we cannot build because of fear of the enemies.

And our adversaries said Nehemiah proceeds to tell this.

They will not know, and they will not see So were our adversaries saying about us: “They will not know, and the Israelites will not recognize us until we come suddenly into their midst and kill them, and with this plot we will stop and curtail the building.”

Now it came to pass when the Jews came And now, the adversaries who had conspired together to wage war against us gathered with the Jews who were among them in their lands, and those Jews who had joined them came before the army, as is customary for soldiers to do, to speak to us, and in this manner the Jews conspired against the enemies. Now it came to pass when the Jews who dwelt beside them came, etc.

that they said to us ten times Those Jews warned us as many as ten times to wage war against our enemies because they were coming to war. And this is what they said to us, “From all the places, etc.” From all those places where you will be scattered while building the wall, here and there, be careful to assemble until you return upon us together to wage war against us.

So I stationed from below...the wall When I heard their words, I stationed [mighty men] from below that place around Jerusalem, from behind the wall of the city and on the bare rocks.

according to families of the people, of the mighty men among them with their weapons, to fight against our enemies when they would come.

And I stationed from below, etc. and I stationed the people, etc. This verse follows the pattern of (Exod. 4:9): “...and the water that you will take from the river will be...will become blood on the dry land;” (Ps. 92:10): “For behold, Your enemies, O Lord, for behold, Your enemies shall perish;” (Jud. 5:12): “Praise! Praise! Deborah. Praise! Praise! Utter a song;” (Ps. 115:1): “Not to us, O Lord, not to us.”

And I saw, and I arose And when I saw the enemies coming, I arose to speak to the nobles and to the prefects to spur them to fight against our enemy.

for your brethren Heb. עַל אֲחֵיכֶם, for the sake of your brethren.

that it had become known to us that they were coming to fight against us.

and we all returned We all returned from the place where we had gathered to meet the enemies, each one to his work in the building of the wall.

And it was from that day on And from that day on, half the mighty men worked at the building of the wall, and the remaining half of the mighty men were armed with weapons to guard their brethren who were doing the work.

spears Heb. וְהָרְמָחִים. The “vav” is superfluous, like the “vav” of (Gen. 36: 24): “And these are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah (וְאַיָה) and Anah.”

and the rulers were close behind the entire tribe of Judah to be cautious in the battle.

The builders of the wall, etc. Those who were building the wall and those who were loading and carrying the loads were working with one hand, and carrying weapons with the other.

the sword Heb. הַשָּׁלַח, an implement of war, like (Job 33:18): “...from perishing by the sword (מֵעֲבֹר בַּשָּׁלַח). And so did Menahem associate it (Machbereth Menahem p. 174).

And the builders How were they building? They were all girded, each one with his sword on his waist, and thus did they build.

beside me He was always beside me.

much Heb. הַרְבֵּה, a great [amount of work].

will fight for us [as translated,] will fight for us.

Let each man and his youth each of the builders and a youth with him.

lodge in the midst of Jerusalem And the night was for their watch, and [during] the day they were doing work. The result was that they did not sleep at all.

we did not take off our clothes We were always zealous in guarding.

man took it even to the water This refers back to “not” above, like (I Sam. 2:3): “...let not arrogance come out of your mouth.” None of us would take off his clothes to lie down or to wash them with water, and this is a double expression, [repeating,] we did not undress.

took it off Heb. שִּׁלְחוֹ, taking off, like (Lev. 6: 4): “He shall then take off his garments,” which is translated by Targum as וְיִשְּׁלַח.