DiscipleDeck
Get started
Bible Commentary

Nehemiah 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Hear, O our God. Compare Ezra's parenthetic burst of thanksgiving (, ). That which in Ezra was a sudden impulse has become a settled habit with Nehemiah (comp. ; , ; , , , ).

Turn their reproach upon their own head. The imprecations of Nehemiah are no pattern to Christians, any more than are those of the Psalmists (; ; , etc.); but it cannot be denied that they are imprecations.

Before men were taught to "love their enemies," and "bless those that cursed them" (), they gave vent to their natural feelings of anger and indignation by the utterance of maledictions. Nehemiah's spirit was hot and hasty; and as he records of himself () that he "cursed" certain Jews who had taken foreign wives, so it is not to be wondered at that he uttered imprecations against his persistent enemies.

Recommended reading

More for Nehemiah 4:4

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 4:1-6Nehemiah 4:1-6 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryMany a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unite in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but l…The Opposition of Sanballat, &c.. (b. c. 445.)Nehemiah 4:1-6 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE OPPOSITION OF SANBALLAT, &C.. (B. C. 445.) Here is, I. The spiteful scornful reflection which Sanballat and Tobiah cast upon the Jews for their attempt to build the wall about Jerusalem. The country rang of it prese…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-6Nehemiah 4:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryRidicule of a good work. Sanballat and his friends had at first thought it impossible that Nehemiah would attempt to repair and restore the wall of Jerusalem, But when they found that the work was actually begun, and ma…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-6Nehemiah 4:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryDerision and devotion. Not the first nor the last instance was this one here recorded of— I. DEVOTION ASSAILED BY DERISION (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Sanballat and Tobiah were contemptuously angry when they heard that the Jews h…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-23Nehemiah 4:1-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe work and warfare of the Church. I. The weak of the Church. 1. Derided. "And mocked the Jews" (Nehemiah 4:1). 2. Under-estimated. "These feeble Jews" (Nehemiah 4:2). 3. Misrepresented. "If a fox go up, he shall even…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-23Nehemiah 4:1-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryThis description of the building of the wall of Jerusalem may be taken as representing the life of the Church militant. The chief points are these:— I. THE SPIRIT which pervades and actuates it. "The people had a mind t…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Nehemiah 4:1-6Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unite in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but l…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Opposition of Sanballat, &c.. (b. c. 445.)THE OPPOSITION OF SANBALLAT, &C.. (B. C. 445.) Here is, I. The spiteful scornful reflection which Sanballat and Tobiah cast upon the Jews for their attempt to build the wall about Jerusalem. The country rang of it prese…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-23This description of the building of the wall of Jerusalem may be taken as representing the life of the Church militant. The chief points are these:— I. THE SPIRIT which pervades and actuates it. "The people had a mind t…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-6EXPOSTION OPEN OPPOSITION OFFERED TO THE WORK BY SANBALLAT AND TOBIAH, AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY NEHEMIAH TO MEET IT (Nehemiah 4:1-23.). It would seem that Sanballat and his friends, when they first heard that the wall w…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-6Ridicule of a good work. Sanballat and his friends had at first thought it impossible that Nehemiah would attempt to repair and restore the wall of Jerusalem, But when they found that the work was actually begun, and ma…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-6Derision and devotion. Not the first nor the last instance was this one here recorded of— I. DEVOTION ASSAILED BY DERISION (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Sanballat and Tobiah were contemptuously angry when they heard that the Jews h…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:1-23The work and warfare of the Church. I. The weak of the Church. 1. Derided. "And mocked the Jews" (Nehemiah 4:1). 2. Under-estimated. "These feeble Jews" (Nehemiah 4:2). 3. Misrepresented. "If a fox go up, he shall even…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 4:4Despising the godly. "Hear, O our God; for we are despised." The contempt of many for sincere and earnest Christians has respect not only to their undertakings, as here, but their whole religious life. Taking this more…Joseph S. Exell and contributors