Berean Standard Bible

Nehemiah 4

1NowH1961whenH834SanballatH5571heardH8085thatH3588weאֲנַ֤חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587were rebuildingבוֹנִים֙vo.NimH1129אֶת־'et-H853the wallH2346,he was furiousH2734and filled with indignationוַיִּכְעַ֖ס הַרְבֵּ֑הvai.yikh.'As har.BehH3707 H7235.He ridiculedוַיַּלְעֵ֖ג עַל־vai.yal.'Eg 'al-H3932 H5921the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064

2beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440his associatesאֶחָ֗יו'e.ChavH251and the armyוְחֵיל֙ve.CheilH2428of Samariaוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ שֹֽׁמְר֔וֹןvai.Yo.mer sho.me.RonH8111 H559,sayingוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמָ֛הmahH4100are these feebleהָאֲמֵלָלִ֖יםha.'a.me.la.LimH537Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֥יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064doingH6213?Can they restoreהֲיַעַזְב֨וּha.ya.'az.VuH5800the wall by themselves?Will they offer sacrificesהֲיִזְבָּ֙חוּ֙ha.yiz.Ba.chuH2076?Will they complete itהַיְכַלּ֣וּhay.kha.LuH3615in a dayבַיּ֔וֹםvai.YomH3117?Can they bring theseוְהֵ֥מָּהve.He.mahH1992burntשְׂרוּפֽוֹת׃se.ru.FotH8313stonesהָאֲבָנִ֛יםha.'a.va.NimH68back to lifeהַיְחַיּ֧וּhay.chai.YuH2421אֶת־'et-H853from the moundsמֵעֲרֵמ֥וֹתme.'a.re.MotH6194of rubbleהֶעָפָ֖רhe.'a.FarH6083?”

3Then Tobiahוְטוֹבִיָּ֥הve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָעַמֹּנִ֖יha.'a.mo.NiH5984,who was beside himאֶצְל֑וֹ'etz.LoH681,saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518evenגַּ֚םgamH1571a foxשׁוּעָ֔לshu.'AlH7776were to climb up onיַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.LehH5927whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834theyהֵ֣םhemH1992are buildingבּוֹנִ֔יםbo.NimH1129,it would break downוּפָרַ֖ץu.fa.RatzH6555their wallחוֹמַ֥תcho.MatH2346of stonesאַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'av.nei.HemH68!”

4Hear usשְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'H8085,O Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588we areהָיִ֣ינוּha.Yi.nuH1961despisedבוּזָ֔הvu.ZahH939.Turnוְהָשֵׁ֥בve.ha.ShevH7725their scornחֶרְפָּתָ֖םcher.pa.TamH2781back uponאֶל־'el-H413their own headsרֹאשָׁ֑םro.ShamH7218,and let them be takenוּתְנֵ֥םu.te.NemH5414as plunderלְבִזָּ֖הle.vi.ZahH961to a landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of captivityשִׁבְיָֽה׃shiv.YahH7633.

5Do notוְאַל־ve.'al-H408cover upתְּכַס֙ עַל־te.Khas 'al-H3680 H5921their iniquityעֲוֹנָ֔ם'a.vo.NamH5771or let their sinוְחַטָּאתָ֖םve.cha.ta.TamH2403be blotted outתִּמָּחֶ֑הti.ma.ChehH4229from Your sightמִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָ אַל־mi.le.fa.Nei.kha 'al-H6440 H408,forכִּ֥יkiH3588they have provokedהִכְעִ֖יסוּ לְנֶ֥גֶדhikh.'I.su le.Ne.gedH3707 H5048the buildersהַבּוֹנִֽים׃ha.bo.NimH1129.

6So we rebuiltוַנִּבְנֶה֙va.niv.NehH1129אֶת־'et-H853the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346until allH3605of itהַחוֹמָ֖הha.cho.MahH2346was joined togetherוַתִּקָּשֵׁ֥רva.ti.ka.SherH7194up toעַד־'ad-H5704half itsחֶצְיָ֑הּchetz.YahH2677height,for the peopleלָעָ֖םla.'AmH5971hadH1961a mindלֵ֦בlevH3820to workלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ פla.'a.SotH6213.

7וַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961Whenכַאֲשֶׁ֣רkha.'a.SherH834Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֡טsan.va.LatH5571and Tobiahוְ֠טוֹבִיָּהVe.toi.yahH2900,together with the Arabsוְהָעַרְבִ֨יםve.ha.'ar.VimH6163,Ammonitesוְהָעַמֹּנִ֜יםve.ha.'a.mo.NimH5984,and Ashdoditesוְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗יםve.ha.'ash.do.DimH796,heardשָׁמַ֣עsha.Ma'H8085thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588the repairאֲרוּכָה֙'a.ru.KhahH724to the wallsH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389was progressingעָלְתָ֤ה'al.TahH5927and thatכִּי־ הֵחֵ֥לּוּki- he.Che.luH3588 H2490the gapsהַפְּרֻצִ֖יםha.pe.ru.TzimH6555were being closedלְהִסָּתֵ֑םle.hi.sa.TemH5640,they were furiousוַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.charH2734מְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966,

8and all of themכֻלָּם֙khu.LamH3605conspiredוַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּ יַחְדָּ֔וvai.yik.she.Ru yach.DavH7194 H3162to comeלָב֖וֹאla.Vo'H935and fightH3898against Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389and createוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתve.la.'a.SotH6213a hindranceתּוֹעָֽה׃to.'AhH8442.

Discouragement Overcome

9So we prayedוַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖לva.nit.pa.LelH6419toH413our GodH430and postedוַנַּעֲמִ֨ידva.na.'a.MidH5975a guardמִשְׁמָ֧רmish.MarH4929against themעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃'a.lei.Hem mi.pe.nei.HemH5921 H6440dayיוֹמָ֥םyo.MamH3119and nightוָלַ֖יְלָהva.Lay.lahH3915.

10Meanwhile, the people of JudahH3063saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559: “The strengthכֹּ֣חַKo.achH3581of the laborerהַסַּבָּ֔לha.sa.BalH5449failsכָּשַׁל֙ka.ShalH3782,and there is so muchהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235rubbleוְהֶעָפָ֖רve.he.'a.FarH6083that weוַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙va.'a.Nach.nuH587will neverלֹ֣אlo'H3808be ableנוּכַ֔לnu.KhalH3201to rebuildלִבְנ֖וֹתliv.NotH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָֽה׃ba.cho.MahH2346.”

11And our enemiesצָרֵ֗ינוּtza.Rei.nuH6862saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Beforeעַ֛ד'adH5704אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834they knowיֵדְעוּ֙ye.de.'UH3045orלֹ֤אlo'H3808seeיִרְא֔וּyir.'UH7200a thingוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808,we will comeנָב֥וֹאna.Vo'H935intoאֶל־'el-H413their midstתּוֹכָ֖םto.KhamH8432,kill themוַהֲרַגְנ֑וּםva.ha.rag.NumH2026,and put an endוְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּve.hish.Bat.nuH7673אֶת־'et-H853to the workH4399.”

12At that timeוַֽיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961כַּאֲשֶׁר־ka.'a.Sher-H834the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֔יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064who livedהַיֹּשְׁבִ֖יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427nearbyH681cameבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935and toldוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559ustenעֶ֣שֶׂר'E.serH6235timesפְּעָמִ֔יםpe.'a.MimH6471over, “Whereverמִכָּל־ הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹתmi.kol ha.me.ko.MotH3605 H4725אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834you turnתָּשׁ֥וּבוּta.Shu.vuH7725,they will attack usH5921.”

13So I stationedוָֽאַעֲמִ֞ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975menbehindמֵאַחֲרֵ֥יme.'a.cha.ReiH310the lowestמִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹתmi.tach.ti.YotH8482sectionsלַמָּק֛וֹםla.ma.KomH4725of the wallH2346,at the vulnerable areasH6708.I stationedוָֽאַעֲמִ֤ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975אֶת־'et-H853themH5971by familiesלְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹתle.mish.pa.ChotH4940withעִם־'im-H5973their swordsחַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛םchar.vo.tei.HemH2719,spearsרָמְחֵיהֶ֖םra.me.chei.HemH7420,and bowsוְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ve.ka.she.to.tei.HemH7198.

14After I had made an inspectionוָאֵ֣רֶאva.'E.re'H7200,I stood upוָאָק֗וּםva.'a.KumH6965and saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559toH413the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715 H413,the officialsהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461 H413,and the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971, “Do notאַל־'al-H408be afraidתִּֽירְא֖וּti.re.'UH3372of themמִפְּנֵיהֶ֑םmi.pe.nei.HemH6440H853.Rememberזְכֹ֔רוּze.Kho.ruH2142the Lordאֲדֹנָ֞י'a.do.NaiH136,who is greatהַגָּד֤וֹלha.ga.DolH1419and awesomeוְהַנּוֹרָא֙ve.ha.no.Ra'H3372,and fightH3898forעַל־'al-H5921your brothersאֲחֵיכֶם֙'a.chei.KhemH251,your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֣םbe.nei.KhemH1121and your daughtersוּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔םu.ve.no.tei.KhemH1323,your wivesנְשֵׁיכֶ֖םne.shei.KhemH802and your homesוּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃ פu.va.tei.KhemH1004.”

15וַיְהִ֞יvay.HiH1961Whenכַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ka.'a.Sher-H834our enemiesאוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙'oy.Vei.nuH341heardשָׁמְע֤וּsha.me.'UH8085thatכִּי־ki-H3588we were awareנ֣וֹדַֽעNo.da'H3045of their schemeעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098and that Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430אֶת־'et-H853had frustrated itוַיָּ֥פֶרvai.Ya.ferH6565,eachכֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ku.La.nuH3605of us returnedוַנָּ֤שָׁבva.na.shuvH7725toאֶל־'el-H413his ownאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376workH4399onאֶל־'el-H413the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346.

16AndH1961fromמִן־min-H4480thatH1931day onH3117,halfחֲצִ֣יcha.TziH2677of my servantsH5288didעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213the workH4399while the other halfוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677heldמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388spearsוְהָרְמָחִ֣יםve.ha.re.ma.ChimH7420,shieldsהַמָּגִנִּ֔יםha.ma.gi.NimH4043,bowsוְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹתve.ha.ke.sha.TotH7198,and armorוְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑יםve.ha.shir.yo.NimH8302.The officersוְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔יםve.Ha.sa.RimH8269stationed themselvesbehindאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310allכָּל־kol-H3605the peopleבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063

17who were rebuildingהַבּוֹנִ֧יםha.bo.NimH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָ֛הba.cho.MahH2346.The laborers who carriedוְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥יםve.ha.no.se.'ImH5375materialsבַּסֶּ֖בֶל עֹמְשִׂ֑יםba.Se.vel 'o.me.SimH5447 H6006workedעֹשֶׂ֣ה בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה'o.Seh va.me.la.KhahH6213 H4399with oneבְּאַחַ֤תbe.'a.ChatH259handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027and heldמַחֲזֶ֥קֶתma.cha.Ze.ketH2388a weaponH7973with the otherוְאַחַ֖תve.'a.ChatH259.

18And eachאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of the buildersוְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔יםve.Ha.bo.NimH1129workedוּבוֹנִ֑יםu.vo.NimH1129with his swordחַרְבּ֛וֹchar.BoH2719strappedאֲסוּרִ֥ים'a.su.RimH631atעַל־'al-H5921his sideמָתְנָ֖יוma.te.NavH4975.But the trumpeterוְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖רve.ha.to.Ke.a' ba.sho.FarH8628 H7782stayed beside meאֶצְלִֽי׃'etz.LiH681.

19Then I saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559toאֶל־'el-H413the noblesהַחֹרִ֤ים וְאֶל־ha.cho.Rim ve.'el-H2715 H413,the officialsהַסְּגָנִים֙ וְאֶל־ha.se.ga.Nim ve.'el-H5461 H413,and the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971: “The workהַמְּלָאכָ֥הha.me.la.KhahH4399isgreatהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235and extensiveוּרְחָבָ֑הu.re.cha.VahH7342,and weוַאֲנַ֗חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuH587are spread outנִפְרָדִים֙nif.ra.DimH6504farרְחוֹקִ֖יםre.cho.KimH7350from oneאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376anotherמֵאָחִֽיו׃me.'a.ChivH251alongעַל־'al-H5921the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346.

20Whereverבִּמְק֗וֹםbim.KomH4725אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834you hearתִּשְׁמְעוּ֙tish.me.'UH8085אֶת־'et-H853the soundק֣וֹלKolH6963of the hornהַשּׁוֹפָ֔רha.sho.FarH7782,rallyתִּקָּבְצ֣וּti.ka.ve.TzuH6908to usאֵלֵ֑ינוּ'e.Lei.nuH413thereשָׁ֖מָּהSha.mahH8033.Our Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430will fightיִלָּ֥חֶםyi.La.chemH3898for us!”

21So weוַאֲנַ֖חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuH587continuedעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213the workבַּמְּלָאכָ֑הba.me.la.KhahH4399,while half ofוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677the menheldמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388spearsבָּֽרְמָחִ֔יםba.re.ma.ChimH7420from the breakמֵעֲל֣וֹתme.'a.LotH5927of dawnהַשַּׁ֔חַרha.Sha.charH7837untilעַ֖ד'adH5704the starsהַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃ha.ko.kha.VimH3556came outצֵ֥אתtzetH3318.

22At thatהַהִיא֙ha.Hi'H1931timeבָּעֵ֤תba.'EtH6256I alsoגַּ֣םgamH1571saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559to the peopleלָעָ֔םla.'AmH5971, “Let every manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376and his servantוְנַעֲר֔וֹve.na.'a.RoH5288spend the nightיָלִ֖ינוּya.Li.nuH3885insideבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,so that they can standוְהָֽיוּ־ve.ha.yu-H1961guardמִשְׁמָ֖רmish.MarH4929by nightהַלַּ֛יְלָהha.Lay.lahH3915and workמְלָאכָֽה׃me.la.KhahH4399by dayוְהַיּ֥וֹםve.hai.YomH3117.”

23So neither Iאֲנִ֜י'a.NiH589וְאֵ֨יןve.'EinH369nor my brothersוְאַחַ֣יve.'a.ChaiH251nor my servantsוּנְעָרַ֗יu.ne.'a.RaiH5288 H376nor the guardsהַמִּשְׁמָר֙ha.mish.MarH4929אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834with meאַחֲרַ֔י אֵין־ אֲנַ֥חְנוּ'a.cha.Rai 'ein- 'a.Nach.nuH310 H369 H587changed out ofפֹשְׁטִ֖יםfo.she.TimH6584our clothesבְּגָדֵ֑ינוּbe.ga.Dei.nuH899;eachH376carried his weaponשִׁלְח֥וֹshil.ChoH7973, even to gofor waterהַמָּֽיִם׃ סha.Ma.yimH4325.

Discouragement Overcome

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4