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Nehemiah 4

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 4 of 13

1 ¶ And it happened, when Sanballat heard that we built the wall even it was angering to him and greatly enraging. and he mocked at the Jews.

2 And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they bring to life the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3 And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox goes up, he will even break down their stone wall.

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Chapter Summary

1 While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work. 7 He sets a watch. 13 He arms the laborers, 19 gives military precepts.

Key Hebrew Words

חוֹמָה wall H2346 · TWOT 674c
מְלָאכָה work, labor H4399 · TWOT 1068b
חֶ֫רֶב sword H2719 · TWOT 732a
לָחַם fight H3898 · TWOT 1104
מִשְׁמָר watch, guard H4929 · TWOT 2414f
שֹׁפָר ram's horn H7782 · TWOT 2449c

People & Context

Nehemiah (son of Hachaliah)

Governor who prays, sets a watch day and night, arms the laborers, and rallies them to fight for their families

Sanballat the Horonite

Enraged adversary who mocks the feeble Jews before the army of Samaria and conspires to attack Jerusalem

Tobiah the Ammonite

Stands beside Sanballat jeering that a fox would break down the stone wall; joins the conspiracy

Timeline

Mockery from Sanballat and Tobiah

Sanballat and Tobiah angrily mock the builders. Nehemiah prays for God to turn their curses back upon them, and the wall reaches half its height.

Nehemiah 4:1-6
The Conspiracy to Attack

Sanballat, Tobiah, and nearby nations conspire to attack Jerusalem. The Jews pray and set up watches day and night.

Nehemiah 4:7-9
Internal Discouragement and External Threats

The laborers complain of exhaustion and rubbish. Meanwhile, Jews living near the enemies report multiple warnings of an impending surprise attack.

Nehemiah 4:10-12

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