John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And I sent messengers unto them , etc.] He did not show any open contempt of them, nor did he even return answer by the messenger that came from them, but sent some of his own people to them: saying, I am doing a great work ; was about an affair of great importance, very busy, and not at leisure to give them a meeting: so that I cannot come down ; Jerusalem being built on an eminence, and the place proposed to meet at in a plain, going thither is expressed by coming down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you ? signifying that it would cease if he left it; and it being of greater consequence than anything they could have to converse about, he argues it would be wrong to relinquish it on such an account; this was the reason he thought fit to give, but was not the only, nor the principal reason, which is suggested in the preceding verse.
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 ואשׁלחה7971 עליהם5921 מלאכים4397 לאמר559 מלאכה4399 גדולה1419 אני589 עשׂה6213 ולא3808 אוכל3201 לרדת3381 למה4100 תשׁבת7673 המלאכה4399 כאשׁר834 ארפה7503 וירדתי3381 אליכם׃413
