# Nehemiah 04 đź“–: Building Amid Opposition
[[đź“š Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-Nehemiah Overview]] | [[Nehemiah 03]] | [[Nehemiah 05]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Opposition to the Work Continues
[[#Verse 01.]]Â (3:33)Â Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews,Â
[[#Verse 02.]] and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves? Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?”
[[#Verse 03.]] Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
[[#Verse 04.]]Â Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Return their reproach on their own head. Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile!Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from your sight, for they have bitterly offended the builders.
[[#Verse 06.]] So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. The people were enthusiastic in their work.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â (4:1)Â When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem had moved ahead and that the breaches had begun to be closed, they were very angry.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] All of them conspired together to move with armed forces against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard to protect against them both day and night.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Then those in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers has failed! The debris is so great that we are unable to rebuild the wall.”
[[#Verse 010]] Then those in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers has failed! The debris is so great that we are unable to rebuild the wall.”
[[#Verse 11.]] Our adversaries also boasted, “Before they are aware or anticipate anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt!”
[[#Verse 12.]] So it happened that the Jews who were living near them came and warned us repeatedly about all the schemes they were plotting against us.
[[#Verse 13.]] So I stationed people at the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places. I stationed the people by families, with their swords, spears, and bows.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] When I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your families!”
[[#Verse 15.]] It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, God frustrated their intentions. Then all of us returned to the wall, each to his own work.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] From that day forward, half my men were doing the work and half were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of JudahÂ
[[#Verse 17.]] who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] The builders, to a man, had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter remained with me.
[[#Verse 19.]] I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is demanding and extensive, and we are spread out on the wall, far removed from one another.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there with us. Our God will fight for us!”
[[#Verse 21.]] So we worked on, with half holding spears, from dawn till dusk.Â
[[#Verse 22.]] At that time I instructed the people, “Let every man and his coworker spend the night in Jerusalem and let them be guards for us by night and workers by day.”Â
[[#Verse 23.]] We did not change clothes—not I, nor my relatives, nor my workers, nor the watchmen who were with me. Each had his weapon, even when getting a drink of water.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Hebrew Bibles number 4:1-6 as the end of chapter 3, so the verse numbers in this chapter differ from English translations.
2. Tobiah mocked that even a fox climbing on their wall would break it down (4:3).
3. Nehemiah's prayer in 4:4-5 asks God to turn the enemies' insults back on them, much like prayers in the Psalms (Psalm 79:12).
4. The enemies surrounded Judah on every side: Samaria to the north, Ammon to the east, Arabs to the south, and Ashdod to the west (4:7).
5. The complaint in 4:10 that the workers' strength was failing and the rubble was too much has a poetic rhythm in Hebrew, like a work song or lament.
6. Jews living near the enemies warned them "ten times" (4:12), a Hebrew way of saying again and again.
7. Half of Nehemiah's men worked while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor (4:16).
8. Those carrying loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other (4:17).
9. A trumpeter stayed beside Nehemiah to rally the people to any point of attack (4:18-20).
10. Nehemiah and his men did not take off their clothes at night, keeping their weapons ready (4:23).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lord who fights for His people. Nehemiah told the builders, "Our God will fight for us!" (4:20). Through the cross Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities and triumphed over them (Colossians 2:15).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the builders (4:1-3). How does ridicule discourage people from God's work, and how did Nehemiah respond (4:4-5)?
2. They prayed to God and set a guard day and night (4:9). How do prayer and practical action work together?
3. Nehemiah told them to remember the great and awesome Lord and fight for their families (4:14). What helps you remember God when you are afraid?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 6: The wall is joined together up to half its height, because the people work with all their heart.
- đź“– verse 9: They pray to God and post a guard day and night.
- đź“– verse 14: Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight for your families and homes.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Exodus 14#Verse 14.|Exodus 14:14]] - The Lord will fight for you.
- đź”— [[Ephesians 06#Verse 10.|Ephesians 6:10-18]] - Put on the full armor of God.
- đź”— [[Psalm 79#Verse 12.|Psalm 79:12]] - A prayer for God to repay the insults of enemies.
- đź”— [[Colossians 02#Verse 15.|Colossians 2:15]] - Christ triumphed over the powers through the cross.
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 16#Verse 13.|1 Corinthians 16:13]] - Stand firm in the faith and be strong.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Nehemiah 04 - SOAP|God Works Through Us]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes