Nehemiah 4:1-8

Ne 4:1

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

At this point they were still building the walls of Jerusalem.  Sanballat had gotten word that the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt and repaired.  He was wroth which means he had fiery anger toward the project and the ones doing the repairs.  He had indignation which means he was grieved in his spirit or vexed and out of his hatred began to mock the Jews who were building in an attempt to humiliate them so they would stop and go home.

Ne 4:2

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

Sanballat was now addressing Tobiah and Geshem and possibly others who were nobles of Persia that were on the scene.  These questions are all designed to get the Jews to question what they are doing just as Satan said to Eve “Yeah had God said?”  They also addressed the army of Samaria which were the enemies of the Jews.  Sanballat raised a series of five questions in hopes the Jews would stop building and raise the ire of the enemies.

What do these feeble Jews? – What are these Jews attempting to do in repairing and rebuilding the walls? He called them “feeble” which means ineffectual or pathetic. Incapable of finishing the job.

Will they fortify themselves? – Will they be able to build a wall around the city and build themselves a protection from the enemy?   

will they sacrifice? – In other words, are they willing to sacrifice their lives and also their fortunes in making the wall happen?

will they make an end in a day? – They had seen the urgency of the project and even those who did not have physical labor as their means of support were getting involved to finish the wall.  Sanballat saw their urgency and their dedication and asked if they would finish it in one day at the speed they were going.

will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? – Where will they get all the materials needed to do the repairs?  Will they take the stones which were laying in the rubbish caused by the Babylonians and re-use them to strengthen and repair the wall?  Many of the stones were burned and became powder under the intense heat of the fires.

Ne 4:3

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Then Tobiah the Ammonite joined in with his mockery.  He proclaimed that even what they have built was so fragile that if a fox would walk on it, the wall would come tumbling down.  The average fox weighed 8-15 pounds (3.6-6.8 kg) and if that could crumble the wall then even a good rain would do it also.

Ne 4:4

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

Instead of Nehemiah lashing back at them, he prayed to God and told him that they were despised because of their desire to build the walls and then asked God that he would turn their own reproach upon them and asked just as they were carried away by their enemies that these mockers would also be subdued by their enemies and carried away so the work would not be hindered.  In this world, and at all times in history God’s people have always been opposed by Satan’s people.  Whether it be when we evangelize or do a project for the kingdom of God, it does not matter they will oppose.  A similar case has happened during the Corona Virus fiasco.  Samaritan’s Purse had put up a tent with 68 beds in Central Park in New York City at the end of March 2020 and the Sodomite community started coming against them with protests and virulence.  Yet, I have still yet to see anything like that, a makeshift hospital, being undertaken by the sodomite community.

Ne 4:5

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

He also asked God not to cover or conceal their iniquity but let everyone present see their hatred of the Lord’s people and their purpose.  He did not want their sins blotted out which means he wanted them to stand accountable for their own sins against God’s people.  When God saves someone he does not cover their sins but removes them and makes their soul clean and ready for Heaven at the moment of salvation.  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25)  The Lord had sanctioned the rebuilding of the walls and because these rank unbelievers were opposing it, they were in essence, opposing the Lord himself.  Before he became the Apostle Paul, he was Saul and was persecuting the people of God but when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus told him that he was persecuting him.  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4)  So in reality, when unbelievers oppose the true work of the Lord, they are opposing the Lord Jesus Christ himself and if they remain unsaved, then they will stand for their sins on Judgment Day.  Until that time Christians will face opposition in this world but those who are doing it will never be guiltless in their actions.

Ne 4:6

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

Nehemiah did not allow the opposition of Satan’s representatives to hinder them in the least.  In this verse we read that the wall was completed half way because the people had a mind to work.  Just as Jesus knew what awaited him in Jerusalem, nevertheless he did not turn away from his mission.  And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, (Luke 9:51) The people with Nehemiah had the same mind and heart to work because they knew it was the Lord’s work and would not be deterred from their goal of completing the wall even with the opposition of Satan’s people.

Ne 4:7

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

The Arabians were influenced by Geshem and Tobiah who was the Governor of the Ammonites and Ashdodites who were with the Philistines and remained an enemy of Israel.  Then these three enemies started to realize that the repairs were serious because up to this point the walls have now been fixed close to their original height and the breaches in the walls which were open spaces as all the walls were not completely destroyed by Babylon.  Now that they realized the repair project was a serious thing it angered them immensely with blazing anger.  They knew the history of Israel and how God had defended it and now they were getting frightened that it would happen again.

Ne 4:8

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.