Bible in one year 7/16/2022 Nehemiah Chapter 2-4 Conspiracy attacked Nehemiah rebuilt the wall.
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries
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Nehemiah chapter
2-4 Conspiracy attacked Nehemiah rebuilt the wall.
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, Mar-Apr. (of 444 B.C.), four months after Nehemiah began praying, but still in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes’ reign (1:1), since his official year began and ended in Tishri(Sept.-Oct: Ex.12:2).
The commission of Artaxerxes had found favor in Nehemiah and allowed him to take journey back to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. The gracious hand of God upon Nehemiah, so they start to rebuild and began the good work. However, when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed them and said, “ What is this you are doing? They asked, “Are you rebelling against the king?”(Neh.2:19) Nehemiah answered, “ The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” (Neh.2:20)
The
work assigned: Eliashib the high
priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They
dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the
Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.(v.1)
Eliashib energetically helped Nehemiah in constructing the walls, but later
caused him trouble by allowing alliances with the Samaritans (13:4). Sheep Gate. At the NE corner of the
city. Tower of the Hundred. A short distance to the W., while the Tower of
Hananel was further W. All classes of people participated in the building:
Priests (v.1), goldsmiths and perfumers (v.8), rulers and women (v.12), Levites
(v.17), and merchants (v.32).Fish Gate
(3) located in the northern section of the wall, just W. of the Tower of
Hananel. Some men, such as Meremoth, accepted a second allotment of work. The
men of Tekoa (v.5) refused to work, perhaps fearing reprisals from Sanballat.
Supervisors. Referring to their overlords or perhaps ‘lord’, referring to
Nehemiah. The Jeshanah Gate.(v.6)
Situated at the NW corner of the city. Malkijah.(v.11). A restored wrongdoer
(Ezra10:31), he helped build the Tower of the Ovens (SW corner, just N. of the
Valley Gate, v.13). Fountain Gate.(v.15)
Just N. of the S. tip of the city, near the Pool of Siloam. Water Gate (v.26) On the E., nearby was
a tower adjacent to the wall guarding the eastern side of Ophel (i.e., Mt.
Zion, immediately S. of the Temple). Horse Gate. (v.28-31). Near the Temple
on the E. Further N. was the East Gate, and still further N. the Inspection Gate
(Near the present Golden Gate). Jesus may have entered Jerusalem in His
triumphal entry through the inspection Gate of the East Gate (Matt.21:10)
The work attacked by
mockery
When Sanballat
heard that they were building the wall, he became angry, and was greatly
incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the
army of Samaria, he said, “ What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer
sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? can they bring the stones back to life
from those heaps of rubble burned as they are? Tobiah the Ammonite, who was
at his side, said, “ What they are
building if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of
stones!” (Neh.4:1-3)
Nehemiah’s prayer when he was attacked, and faced the mockery,
The face that God was being challenged explains the harsh tone of Nehemiah’s prayer. With the walls half built (v.6) mere jeering was insufficient and an open attack was now planned by conspiracy.
First “ Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” (v.8), Nehemiah prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. necessitating both prayer and constant vigil (v.9).
Second, the people in Judah said, “ The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” The persistent rumor of imminent attack discouraged the workers. In Judah., I.e., among the Jews. Neighboring Jews repeatedly urged those who were building to leave their work and return home to protect their families(v.12).
Third, Also our enemies said, “ Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” (v.11). Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Whatever you turn, they will attack us.”
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When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the well, each to his own work. (v.15) and from that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “ The word is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us.” (v.19).
1). Christians must be aware of spiritual
warfare. When we fulfill God’s will, purpose and His calling, we will arouse
enemy who disagree with us. The enemy will attack, mock, ridicule us by saying (or
injecting) negative thoughts, inferior feeble laboring, teasing, despising, and
insulting. In Nehemiah case, the enemies said, “
what are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer
sacrifices? Will the finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life
from those heaps back to life from those heaps of rubble burned as they are?
First, he
prayed earnestly, “ Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back
on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their
sins from your sight, For they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
(Nehemiah 4:4)
Second, he kept encouraging his followers “
Don’t be afraid of them, Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight
for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.
(Nehemiah4:14).
Third, he called for action after heard the
trumpet call. “The word is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated
from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
join us there. Our God will fight for us.” (v.19).
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles
C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible
Institute, 1986
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