John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me , etc.] Messengers: saying, come, let us meet together in some one of the villages ; in Cephirim, which Jarchi takes to be the name of a place, perhaps the same with Cephirah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, ( Joshua 18:26) in the plain of Ono ; which was in the same tribe, (see 1 Chronicles 8:12), they might pretend a friendly meeting, to accommodate differences between them, or to converse together about the general interest of the king of Persia in those parts: but they thought to do me mischief ; to kill him, or at least to confine him; this he either conjectured from their general character and behaviour, or he had intelligence of their design.
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 וישׁלח7971 סנבלט5571 וגשׁם1654 אלי413 לאמר559 לכה1980 ונועדה3259 יחדו3162 בכפירים3715 בבקעת1237 אונו207 והמה1992 חשׁבים2803 לעשׂות6213 לי רעה׃7451
