John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. Then I sent unto him , etc.] Whether a letter, or a messenger, is not said: saying there are no such things done as thou sayest ; that there was any scheme formed to rebel, and make him king, or that prophets were appointed to declare him such: but thou feignest them out of thine own heart ; in short, that they were no other than lies of his own inventing.
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 אליו413 לאמר559 לא3808 נהיה1961 כדברים1697 האלה428 אשׁר834 אתה859 אומר559 כי3588 מלבך3820 אתה859 בודאם׃908
