Teks -- Nehemiah 4:4 (NET)

4:4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile!

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Neh 4:4 - A prey

Give them for a prey to their enemies, and let these carry them into the land of captivity.

JFB: Neh 4:4-5 - Hear, O our God; for we are despised

The imprecations invoked here may seem harsh, cruel, and vindictive; but it must be remembered that Nehemiah and his friends regarded those Samaritan leaders as enemies to the cause of God and His people, and therefore as deserving to be visited with heavy judgments. The prayer, therefore, is to be considered as emanating from hearts in which neither hatred, revenge, nor any inferior passion, but a pious and patriotic zeal for the glory of God and the success of His cause, held the ascendant sway.

Clarke: Neh 4:4 - Turn their reproach upon their own head

Turn their reproach upon their own head - A prayer of this kind, understood literally, is not lawful for any Christian. Jesus, our great master, has said, "Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you."Such sayings as the above are excusable in the mouth of a Jew, under severe irritation. See the next verse, Neh 4:5 (note).

TSK: Neh 4:4 - Hear // despised // turn

Hear : Psa 123:3, Psa 123:4

despised : Heb. despite

turn : 1Sa 17:26; Psa 79:12; Pro 3:34; Hos 12:14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Neh 4:4 - Turn their reproach upon their own head // Give them for a prey in the land of captivity // give them for a prey // the land of captivity

Turn their reproach upon their own head let them be really as contemptible as they represent us to be. This, and the following requests, may seem harsh, but they were both just, as being directed against such malicious, inveterate, and implacable enemies to God and to his people, and necessary for the vindication and defence of God’ s honour, and worship, and people.

Give them for a prey in the land of captivity let them be removed from our neighbourhood, and carried into captivity; and there let them find no favour, but further severity. Or,

give them for a prey to their enemies, and let these carry them into

the land of captivity .

Haydock: Neh 4:4 - Captivity

Captivity. Since they have not learnt to commiserate others. (Calmet)

Gill: Neh 4:4 - Hear, O our God, for we are despised // and turn their reproach upon their own head // give them for a prey in the land of captivity

Hear, O our God, for we are despised,.... Here begins the prayer of Nehemiah, who had been informed of what these men said in contempt of him, and his builders, and to whom he sent no answer, but applied to God:

and turn their reproach upon their own head; as they have despised and reproached us, let them be despised and reproached by their neighbours:

give them for a prey in the land of captivity; let them be carried captive, as we have been, and become a prey and booty to their enemies.