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Nehemiah 4

7 The buylding of Jerusalém is hindered, 15 But God breaketh their enterprise. 17 The Jewes buylde with one hand, and hold their weapons in the other.
1.But when Sanballát heard that we buylded the wall, then was he wroth and sore grieved, and mocked the Jewes,
2.And said before his abrethren and the armie of Samaria, thus he said, What do these bweak Jewes? wil they fortifie themselves? wil they sacrifice? wil they finish it in a day? wil they make the stones whole again out of the heaps of dust, seing they are burnt?
3.And Tobiáh the Ammonite was beside him, and said, Although they buylde, yet if a foxe go up, he shal even break downe their stony wall.
4.cHeare, ô our God (for we are despised) and turne their shame upon their owne head, and give them unto a prey din the land of their captivitie,
5.And cover not their e iniquity, neither let their sin be put out in thy presence: for they have provoked us before the buylders. ah The buylders with weapons.
7.¶ But when Sanballát, and Tobiáh, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodims heard that the walles of Jerusalém were repared, (for the breaches began to be stopped) then thei were verie worth,
8.And conspired altogether to come and to fight against Jerusalém, and to ^hinder them.
9.Then we prayed unto our God, and set watchemen by them, day and night, because of them.
10.And Judáh said, The strength of the bearers is weakened, & there is much earth, so that we are not able to buylde the wall.
11.Also our adversaries had said, Thei shal not knowe, nether se, til we come into the middes of them and slaye them, and cause the worke to cease.
12.But when the Jewes (which dwelt beside them) came, they tolde us ften times, gFrom all places whence ye shal returne, upon us.
13.Therefore set I in the lower places behinde the wall upon the toppes of the stones, and placed the people by their families, with their swordes, their speares and their bowes,
14.Then I beheld, and rose up, and said unto the princes, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: hremember the great Lord, and feareful, and fight for your brethren, your sonnes, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15.And when our enemies heard that it was knowen unto us, then God broght their counsel to noght, and we turned all again to the wall, every one unto his worke.
16.And from that day, halfe of the yong men did the labour, and the other halfe parte of them held the speares, and shields, and bowes, and habergins: and the rulers stode ibehind all the house of Judáh.
17.They that buylded on the wall, & they that bare burdens, and they that laded, did the work with one hand, and with the other helde the sworde.
18.For everie one of the buylders had his sworde girde on his loynes, and so buylded: and he that blewe the trumpet, was behind me.
19.Then said I unto the princes, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The worke is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one farre from another.
20.In what place therefore ye heare the sound of the trumpet, kresorte ye thither unto us: our God shal fight for us.
21.So we laboured in the worke, and halfe of them helde the speares, from the appearing of the morning, til the stars came forth.
22.And at the same time said I unto the people, Let everie one with his servant lodge within Jerusalém, that they may be a watche for us in the night, and labour in the day.
23.So nether I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the warde, (which followed me) none of us did put off our clothes, save everie one put them off lfor washing. Usurie reproved. Nehemi

Notes

2-a.
Of his companions that dwelt in Samaria.
2-b.
Thus the wicked, that consider not that God’s power is ever in a readiness for the defence of his, mock them as though they were weak and feeble.
4-c.
This is the remedy that the children of God have against the derision and threatenings of their enemies, to flee to God by prayer.
4-d.
Let them be spoiled and led away captive.
5-e.
Let your plagues declare to the world that they set themselves against you, and against your Church thus he prays, only having respect to God’s glory, and not for any private affection, or grudge. 3
6-^.
Or, half height.
8-^.
Ebr., make to stay, meaning the people.
12-f.
That is, often times.
12-g.
They, which brought the tidings, said thus, When you leave your work, and go either to eat, or the rest, your enemies will assail you.
14-h.
Who is ever at hand to deliver his out of danger, and therefore seeing they should fight for the maintenance of God’s glory and for the preservation of their own lives and of theirs, he encourages them to play the valiant men.
16-i.
To oversee them and to encourage them to their work.
20-k.
Meaning, to resist their enemies if need required.
23-l.
That is, when they purified themselves, or els when they wash- ed their clothes.