4:1 he became angry and greatly provoked This phrase emphasizes the extreme anger of Sanballat at the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.

4:2 his brothers Likely refers to Sanballat’s fellow officials, including Tobiah. However, the Hebrew term used here, echay (literally rendered as “brothers”) may indicate that Sanballat’s literal brothers were present. He may have promoted his brothers to positions of influence as he gained power, using them as his closest advisers.

the army of The Hebrew word used here, chayil, designates a group of powerful people. As such, the term may refer to an army or to a retinue of wealthy nobles. However, Sanballat more likely had military officers with him rather than the wealthy men of Samaria.

feeble Sanballat seems to be describing the Jewish people as a dying people group—one that is languishing or in the last days of its existence. The verb form of the Hebrew adjective used here is commonly used in the ot to describe the withering and decaying of a plant (Isa 16:8; 24:7). It can also be used of people (Isa 19:8; Hos 4:3).

Will they sacrifice Sanballat may be referring to his desire to see religious activity cease in Jerusalem; sacrifices were already being offered (Ezra 6:12–18). He could also be referring to sacrifices that may be offered after the wall rebuilding project was a success (compare Neh 12:43). It could have also been that sacrifices had temporarily ceased, because of the intensity of persecution.

4:3 Their wall of stone that they are building would break down Tobiah’s sarcastic remark is a reference to the problems affiliated with the wall up to this point. Tobiah’s statement reveals the contempt he and others have for the efforts of the Jewish people.

4:4 Turn their scorn on their head Describes a reversal of fortune—poetic justice.

4:5 do not let their sin be blotted out from before you A request that the adversaries of the Jewish people be shown no mercy, but instead that the punishment of their sins come upon them. Jeremiah uses the same phrase in a prayer concerning his adversaries in Jer 18:23.

4:6 we rebuilt the wall A statement that emphasizes the people’s resolution in the face of opposition.

4:7 Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs Indicates opposition from all sides. See Neh 2:19 and note.

Ashdodites Refers to people from the city of Ashdod, located west of Jerusalem. The territory controlled by Ashdod included the entire region of Philistia, with the exception of Gaza—an independent city—and Ashkelon, which belonged to Tyre (according to the Greek historian Herodotus, Histories 2.157).

4:8 make trouble for it The enemies of the Jewish people intend to disrupt the work on the wall before it may be completed—by disorganizing or distracting them.

4:10 Judah said The Jewish people were lamenting their circumstances (compare note on Lam 1:1–5:22). Their resolve for the task of completing the wall is fading; they are in despair.

too much dirt This is probably a reference to walls that were still collapsed from Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem in 586 bc (2 Kgs 25:8–12; compare Neh 2:13, 17).

4:11 They will not know nor see The enemies of the Jewish people believed they could secretly undermine the work of the Jewish people and ultimately kill them.

4:12 ten times Possibly idiomatic for a large number (Gen 31:7; Num 14:22; Job 19:3). The people who had come in from the surrounding villages to work on the wall are being told by their friends and relatives to give up the work and protect themselves.

4:13 the deepest part It seems that Nehemiah places people as military guards according to their family or tribal distinctions in locations particularly vulnerable to attack, but still sheltered.

their swords, spears, and bows Swords and spears were the principal weapons used in hand-to-hand combat, while bows were customarily used at longer ranges.

4:14 Do not be afraid Nehemiah encourages both leaders of the Jewish people, and all those listening to his commands, to have courage and fight for one another.

the Lord Although the Hebrew word used here, adon, is the generic word for “lord” or “master” and not the divine name, the context suggests Nehemiah is talking about God (compare Neh 4:20).

4:15 returned to the wall Nehemiah’s guards, and overall show of force, had the effect of not just defending the Jewish people, but also intimidating the enemy.

4:16 my servants Probably refers to a group of men under the personal authority of Nehemiah as governor (5:10; 13:19). However, the Hebrew term here (na'ar) could refer to the Jewish returned exiles in general.

breastplates It seems that these people were not just wearing armor, but were also holding armor, likely for the instance that it was needed by others.

4:18 to his side These workers needed both hands free to work on the wall.

the trumpet Refers to a ram’s horn, commonly used for signal calls.

4:20 the sound of the trumpet An inventive plan to defend the city, as the people were separated over a vast area (compare Josh 6). This would leave some parts of the city undefended but would allow for the small group of people to battle against their enemies as one force.

God will fight for us Recalls earlier passages in which God is seen as a divine warrior (see Exod 14:14; Deut 3:22).

4:21 half of them were holding the spears Probably indicates that half of the men present constantly held spears in their hands, during every waking hour.

4:22 Let each man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem If the men ventured outside the city at night, they became vulnerable to attack on the open roads. Also, if a large portion of the defenders left for the evening, those who remained in the city would be in danger of an evening assault.

4:23 Each one kept his weapon The terse Hebrew phrase used here—ish shilcho hammayim (literally, “a man, his weapon, the waters”)—could mean that the men did not even remove their weapons when bathing or getting a drink of water. Alternately, the Hebrew word for “water” is graphically similar to the word for “right hand,” so the text may have originally indicated that they kept their weapons close at hand. Either way, they were constantly on guard.