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Nehemiah 4:16-20

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

16. And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers [were] behind all the house of Judah. 17. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon. 18. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and [so] builded. And he that sounded the trumpet [was] by me. 19. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20. In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

Nehemiah 4:16-20 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Nehemiah 4:16

Theological / Devotional

My servants. Probably members of the personal retinue of Nehemiah, Jews placed at his disposal as governor. The list of Neh. 3 implies that the work was begun by Judean Jews. But when the situation became more tense and difficult, Nehemiah assigned his personal assistants to the work of construction and his personal bodyguard to guard duty.

The rulers were behind. Probably the foremen. These men stood “behind” the laborers to direct their work and to lead them in the defense of the city if the enemy ventured to attack.

By SdaBc