John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. For they all made us afraid , etc.] Or you all, as Aben Ezra interprets it; or all the Heathen nations, as Jarchi; this was the design of all those scandalous reports, to intimidate them, and with this they pleased themselves, as follows: their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done ; this they hoped would be the effect of those reports sent to them: now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands ; and let them not have what they will, and hope for; according to Aben Ezra, these words are directed to Sanballat, that if he was a friend, as he pretended, that instead of weakening, he would strengthen his hands by a sincere reconciliation; so Vatablus; but they are an address to God, such short ejaculations being usual with Nehemiah.
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 כי3588 כלם3605 מיראים3372 אותנו853 לאמר559 ירפו7503 ידיהם3027 מן4480 המלאכה4399 ולא3808 תעשׂה6213 ועתה6258 חזק2388 את853 ידי׃3027
