John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall , etc.] Or were building it; for as yet it was not finished, (see Nehemiah 4:6), he was wroth, and took great indignation ; inwardly, though outwardly he pretended to treat the work with contempt, as if it never would be accomplished, which yet he feared: and mocked the Jews ; as a set of foolish builders, and unable to finish what they had begun.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud an haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unit in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but looked up to God by prayer. God's people have often been despised people, but he hears all the slights that are put upon them and it is their comfort that he does so. Nehemiah had reason to thin that the hearts of those sinners were desperately hardened, else he would not have prayed that their sins might never be blotted out. Goo work goes on well, when people have a mind to it. The reproaches of enemies should quicken us to our duty, not drive us from it.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 כאשׁר834 שׁמע8085 סנבלט5571 כי3588 אנחנו587 בונים1129 את853 החומה2346 ויחר2734 לו ויכעס3707 הרבה7235 וילעג3932 על5921 היהודים׃3064
