Teks -- Nehemiah 4:6 (NET)

4:6 So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. The people were enthusiastic in their work.

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

Wesley: Neh 4:6 - The half

Unto half its height.

JFB: Neh 4:6 - all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof

The whole circuit of the wall had been distributed in sections to various companies of the people, and was completed to the half of the intended height.|| 12367||1||15||0||@@HE SETS A WATCH.==== (Neh. 4:7-23)

JFB: Neh 4:6 - But . . . when Sanballat . . . heard that the walls . . . were made up, and . . . the breaches . . . stopped

The rapid progress of the fortifications, despite all their predictions to the contrary, goaded the Samaritans to frenzy. So they, dreading danger from the growing greatness of the Jews, formed a conspiracy to surprise them, demolish their works, and disperse or intimidate the builders. The plot being discovered, Nehemiah adopted the most energetic measures for ensuring the common safety, as well as the uninterrupted building of the walls. Hitherto the governor, for the sake of despatch, had set all his attendants and guards on the work--now half of them were withdrawn to be constantly in arms. The workmen labored with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other; and as, in so large a circuit, they were far removed from each other, Nehemiah (who was night and day on the spot, and, by his pious exhortations and example, animated the minds of his people) kept a trumpeter by his side, so that, on any intelligence of a surprise being brought to him, an alarm might be immediately sounded, and assistance rendered to the most distant detachment of their brethren. By these vigilant precautions, the counsels of the enemy were defeated, and the work was carried on apace. God, when He has important public work to do, never fails to raise up instruments for accomplishing it, and in the person of Nehemiah, who, to great natural acuteness and energy added fervent piety and heroic devotion, He provided a leader, whose high qualities fitted him for the demands of the crisis. Nehemiah's vigilance anticipated every difficulty, his prudent measures defeated every obstruction, and with astonishing rapidity this Jerusalem was made again "a city fortified."

Clarke: Neh 4:6 - For the people had a mind to work

For the people had a mind to work - The original is very emphatic: ויהי לב לעם לעשות vayehi leb leam laasoth , "For the people had a heart to work."Their hearts were engaged in it; and where the heart is engaged, the work of God goes on well. The whole of this 6th verse is omitted by the Septuagint.

TSK: Neh 4:6 - and all the wall // for the people // had a mind

and all the wall : That is, the whole circuit of the wall was completed unto half the intended height.

for the people : The original is very emphatic, wyhee laiv leam laasoth , ""for the people had a heart to work.""Their heart was engaged in it, and they went about it cheerfully and vigorously.

had a mind : Neh 6:15; 1Ch 29:3, 1Ch 29:14, 1Ch 29:17, 1Ch 29:18; 2Ch 29:36; Psa 110:3; 2Co 8:16, 2Co 8:17; Phi 2:13; Heb 13:21

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

Poole: Neh 4:6 - Unto the half thereof

Unto the half thereof either,

1. In length; or rather,

2. In height; for the whole circumference of the wall was distributed among the builders, who also had carried on the work, beginning at the sheep-gate, and ending there also, as appears from Neh 3:1,32 ; and the walls of Jerusalem are said to be made up , here, Neh 4:7 .

Haydock: Neh 4:6 - Thereof

Thereof, all round; as masons were stationed in different parts, (ver. 19.) and not barely on one side of the city. (Calmet) ---

Tobias alludes to the present lowness of the walls, ver. 3. (Haydock)

Gill: Neh 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

So built we the wall,.... Went on in building it, notwithstanding their scoffs and threats:

and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof; it was carried all round the city to half the height of it:

for the people had a mind to work; their heart was in it, they had a good will to it, and they made haste to finish it.