John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Now it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall , etc.] Quite finished it: and that there was no breach left therein ; but all was made up firm and strong: though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates ; not upon all of them, though some might by the particular builders of them; and they all of them might be ready made, though not as yet put upon the hinges.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Let those who are tempted to idle merry meetings by vain companions thus answer the temptation, We have work to do, and must not neglec it. We must never suffer ourselves to be overcome, by repeated urgency to do anything sinful or imprudent; but when attacked with the sam temptation, must resist it with the same reason and resolution. It is common for that which is desired only by the malicious, to be falsel represented by them as desired by the many. But Nehemiah knew at what they aimed, he not only denied that such things were true, but tha they were reported; he was better known than to be thus suspected. We must never omit any known duty for fear it should be misconstrued; but while we keep a good conscience, let us trust God with our good name God's people, though loaded with reproach, are not really fallen so lo in reputation as some would have them thought to be. Nehemiah lifted u his heart to Heaven in a short prayer. When, in our Christian work an warfare, we enter upon any service or conflict, this is a good prayer I have such a duty to do, such a temptation to grapple with; now therefore, Of God, strengthen my hands. Every temptation to draw us from duty, should quicken us the more to duty.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 כאשׁר834 נשׁמע8085 לסנבלט5571 וטוביה2900 ולגשׁם1654 הערבי6163 וליתר3499 איבינו341 כי3588 בניתי1129 את853 החומה2346 ולא3808 נותר3498 בה פרץ6556 גם1571 עד5704 העת6256 ההיא1931 דלתות1817 לא3808 העמדתי5975 בשׁערים׃8179
