Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. But it came to paſſe.]
THE Devil and his Impes have ever been utter Enemies to Reformation. So do ſavage beaſts briſtle up themſelves, and make the moſt fierce aſſaults, when they are in danger of loſing the prey, which they had once ſeized on. Jabeſh Gilead would ſend in none to help the Lord againſt the mighty, Judg. 21.9. No more would Meroz, chap. 5.23. Joſiah met with much oppoſition: ſo did St. Paul wherever he came, to ſet up Evangelical and ſpiritual worſhip; which is called a Reformation, Heb. 9.10. All the World was againſt Athanaſius in his generation, and Luther in his: rejecting what they attempted, with ſcorn and ſlander. Here it is quarrel enough to Nehemiah and his Jewes, that they would be no longer miſerable. They were not more buſie in building, then the Enemies active in deriding, conſpiring, practiſing to hinder and overthrow them. A double deriſion is here recorded: and both as full of miſchief, as prophane wit, or rancoured malice could make them.
He was wroth] Heb. He was enkindled, and all on a light fire: he was as hot as Nebuchadnezzars Oven, huge hot [he took great indignation] and was ſo unreaſonably enraged, as if he would have fallen forthwith into a phrenſy or apoplexy; as that Roman Emperour did, by raging at his ſervant. He was grieved before, chap. 2. but now he was madded.
And mocked the Jews] By word and geſture, fleering and jeering, flouting and ſcoffing at them, as the Phariſees alſo did at our Saviour, Luk. 16.14. Davids Enemies at him, upon their ale-bench: Sr. Tho. Moore and other learned Papiſts, at the new-Goſpellers. See chap. 2.19. This might have diſmayed theſe poor Jewes, and put them out of countenance; for our nature is moſt impatient of reproaches; there being none ſo mean, but thinks himſelf worthy of ſome regard: and a reproachful ſcorn (ſuch as theſe here) ſhewes an utter diſreſpect, which iſſueth from the very ſuperfluity of malice. If God had not ſtrengthened them, ſaith One, it would have made them leave their work, and run away.
Verſe 2. And he ſpake before his brethren] Id eſt, before his companions and complices who would ſecond him and ſay the ſame, his Aiones, and Negones, as one calleth ſuch.
And the Army of Samaria] The Garriſon-ſouldiers; or thoſe that lay there billetted, to obſerve the people.
What do theſe feeble Jews?] Theſe beggerly ſhiftleſſe Fellowes, theſe Aſinarii, (as Melon and Appion of Alexandria diſgracefully called the Jews:) like as Tertullian telleth us, that the Pagans painted the God of the Chriſtians with an Aſſes head, and a Book in his hand: to note that they were ſilly and deſpicable people. B. Jewell in a Sermon of his, citeth this out of Tertullian, and addeth, Do not our adverſaries the like at this day againſt all that profeſſe the Goſpel?
Will they fortify themſelves?] Heb. Will they leave to themſelves, ſc. any thing to truſt unto? Junius rendreth An ſinerent eos? ſhould they, (ſc. the Officers and Souldiers) ſuffer them thus to do?
Will they ſacrifice?] Sc. at the dedication of their new Walles? Will they do this all at once? and think they without more adoe, to have the liberty of their Sanctuary.
Will they make an end in a day?] It ſhould ſeem ſo by their Citò, Citò, quick diſpatch of their parts and task, &c.
Praecipita tempus: mors atra impendet agenti.Sil. Ital.
Will they revive the Stones, &c.] Stones they want for their new wall: where will they have them? will they glew together the old Stones, and revive them out of the rubbiſh? will they do this? or, what will they do?
Verſe 3. Now Tobiah the Ammonite] This was one of Sanballats good brethren, ver. 2. A Bird of the ſame feather, a loaf of the ſame leven, his fellow-ſcoffer, and ſo homine pejor, ſaith Chryſoſtome; worſe then a man; as the ſcoffed that beareth it well, is Angelis par, ſaith he, an Angels peere.
Even that which they build, if a Fox go up, &c.] It was ſome ſuch bitter jeer that Remus uttered in contempt of Romulus his new wall, and was knockt on the head for it. Hae ſannae leniter volant, non lenitèr violant.
Verſe 4. Hear, ô our God] Theſe mocks and menaces lay ſo heavy upon Nehemiah's ſpirit, that he could not eaſe himſelf, but by breathing heaven-ward; and turning them over to God to take an order with them. His prayer is not long but full: A child may not chat in his Fathers preſence: his words muſt be humble, earneſt, direct to the point, avoiding vain babblings, and tedious prolixities.
For we are deſpiſed] Heb. We are contempt in the abſtract. Not vilified we are onelyonly, but nullified, as a company of foreign No-bodies. So Paul (the moſt precious man upon earth) and his companions (the glory of Chriſt, Eſay 62.3.and a Royall diadem in the hand of Jehovah) were looked upon as the filth of the World, & the off-ſcouring of al things, 1 Cor. 4. What matter is it then what becometh of us?2 Joh. We have a God to turn us to, and Demetrius hath teſtimony of the truth: that's enough; let Diotrephes prate, what he pleaſeth.
And turn their reproach upon their own heads] Surely God ſcorneth theſe Scorners, ſaith Solomon: that is,Prov. 3.34. ſaith Rabbi Levi upon that Taxt, he caſteth them into ſome calamity, and ſo maketh them a laughing ſtock, to thoſe whom they have laughed at. God loves to retaliate, to pay men home in their own coyn. Thus he dealt by Appion of Alexandria: who ſcoffing at Religion,Joſephus. (and eſpecially at circumciſion) had an ulcer the ſame time, and in the ſame place. The like ill end befell Julian the Apoſtate, whoſe daily practiſe was to ſcoffe at Chriſt and his people. Diocleſian the Emperour (as Volaterran writeth) had a Jeſter called Geneſius, who uſed to make him merry at meales, and, amongſt their deviſes, would ſcoffe and ſquib at Chriſtians: But God plagued him for example of others. And the like he did to Morgan that mocking Biſhop of St. Davies: to John Apowel who derided William Mauldon for his devotion: and laſtly,Act. & Mon. fol. 1902. Ibid. 1906. to one Lever of Brightwel in Barkſhire, who ſaid that he ſaw that ill-favoured knave Latimer when he was burned at Oxford: and that he had teeth like an Horſe. But the Lord ſuffered not this ſcorn and contempt of his ſervant to paſſe unpuniſhed. For that very day, and about the ſame hour, that Lever ſpake theſe words, his ſon wickedly hanged himſelf, ſaith mine Authour. Lege, cave.
And give them for a prey, &c.] A heavy curſe, and, as not cauſeleſſe (againſt implacable Enemies to God and goodneſſe) ſo nor fruitleſſe. Wo be to ſuch as againſt whom the Saints moved with a zeal of God, ſhall imprecate vengeance. God uſually inflicteth what they denounce againſt his and their irreconcilable adverſaries. Fire proceedeth out of their mouths, &c. Revel. 11.5.
And cover not their iniquity] O fearful imprecation! Surely if they onelyonly are bleſſed whoſe ſin is covered Pſal. 32.1. What ſhall become of thoſe that are in a contrary condition? If pardon of ſin be ſuch a voluminous mercy, as having many other mercies bound up with it, think what a miſery it is to have ſin imputed; and get a cover ſpeedily, for that abominable filth, and, to God himſelf an eye-ſore.
For they have provoked thee to anger, &c.] This was it that Nehemiah ſo ſtomacked: and that drew from him theſe dreadful imprecations, viz. Gods glory, and not any ſelf concernment: He hated and curſed non virum, ſed virium, &c.]
Verſe 6. So built we the Wall] This followed upon his prayer, as a gracious anſwer to it: the people were encouraged, and the Wall finiſhed. Faithful prayer is never ineffectual. Reproaching is an heart-breaking, Pſal. 69.20. but ſo long as a Chriſtian can pray, he is not without his cordial. I came for thy prayer, Dan. 10.1.
And all the Wall was joyned together] Not with gold indeed (as Caſſiodorus ſaith, the Walls of Suſa in Perſia were) but with that which was better then gold, faith in Gods goodneſſe, and zeal of his glory.
Ʋnto the half thereof] Unto half the height: for they could not do all at once: neither can we in the ſpiritual building: but grow up and increaſe with the increaſe of God.Col. 2.19.
For the people had a minde to work] And the more minde, becauſe they met with ſo much oppoſition. A free ſpirit is moſt ſeen (ſaith one) when there be moſt rubs in the way: when he that moves by outward poyſes, will ſtick and be dull: As when a bowle runs up an hill, every rub ſlugs it; but when down hill, a rub quickeneth it.
Verſe 7. And the Arabians and the Ammonites] A rabble of Malignants meet and make head. Sanballat, by the help of Tobiah, had now gotten a great band of ſouldiers, and ſpecially of Arabians, Ammonites, and Aſhdodites, to fight for him againſt this feeble folk, but yet armed with God, and that had him for their champion. So we may ſee how readily one wicked man will be drawn to help another: and how the wickedneſſe of one will infect another that will give eare to it. Read Pſalm 83.6, 7, 8. Rev. 16.16, 17, &c.
Heard that the walls of Jeruſalem were made up] Heb. That health (or as the old Tranſlation hath it, a ſalve) aſcended upon the walls. A Metaphor from Chirurgeons, who when they heal wounds by ſalves or plaiſters joyne the fleſh together again, which before was cut in ſunder: ſo the breaches of the walls, which afore lay gaping open, were joyned together, and made ſound, as though it were one entire wall, & quaſi tota moles in tantam magnitudinem ex unico ingenti lapide tam magnificè conſurgeret.
Then they were very wroth] That old enmity, Gen. 3.15. ſtirred in them, and they were ſoon kindled; Satan being the boutefeau, or kindle-coale. See verſe 1.
Verſe 8. And they conſpired all of them together] All of them, and together: and yet this was not Ʋnity, but Conſpiracy: Such as is that among Devils, Mark 5.9. among Antichriſtians, Rev. 17.13. among Turks, who have as little diſſenſion in their Religion, as any. But well may that garment have no ſeame, that hath no ſhape. The army of Niniveh was quiet, Nah. 1.12. no falling out, nor complaining in their hoſts: hence their King marched on, paſſed thorough. But ſo did not theſe conſpiratours, becauſe they met with thoſe that were no leſſe well combined, and far better reſolved then themſelves.foreign. Athen. l. 3. The Thebanes had a band of men they called Sacra Cohors, conſiſting of ſuch onelyonly as were joyned in the bonds of love, and reſolved to live and die together. Theſe Jewes under the command of Nehemiah were none other, and were therefore inſuperable.
To come and to fight] To turn their works into knocks.
And to hinder it] Heb. To make an errour in it. The Hebrew word is uſed both of the errour of the heart; and of the foot, Eſay 63.17. Pſal. 119. ult. It may be rendered here, to hinder him, to make an errour in him: to make Nehemiah at a ſtand, or rather to run away, to creep into corners, and give over the work.
Verſe 9. Nevertheleſſe we made our prayer unto God] Who is the Saints ſanctuary of ſafety, their preſent help in time of trouble. Prayer to him is an anchor in all ſtorms, and a ſalve for all ſores; yea, it healeth not only body and ſoul, but even hard ſtony walls, verſe 7. Provided that we judge our ſelves in prayer,foreign and commit our cauſe to God to be judged by him, as the Hebrew word here importeth.Euſeb: lib. 4. Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 23. Thus did the children of Reuben, Gad, and Manaſſeh, when to fight againſt the Hagarens. Thus did Jabiz, and Jehoſaphat, and Conſtantine, and Theodoſius, and that late victorious King of Sweden, of whom it is ſtoried in his life, that he would pray a ſhipboard, aſhoare, in the field, in the middeſt of a battle; as if prayer alone were the ſureſt piece of his whole armour.Mr. Clark.
And ſet a watch] According to that of our Saviour, Watch and pray, Luke 21.36. and that of the Heathen, Admota manu invocanda eſt Minerva: Ora & labora, pray, and then uſe beſt policy: firſt conquer heaven, and then preſume of earths conqueſt.
Againſt them] Or, over-anent them, at the workmens elbowes, and in the face of the enemies.
Verſe 10. And Judah ſaid] Here was foreign, impedimenti domeſtici: aliud ex alio malum, a worſe diſcouragement then the former. Judah (the chief labourers) begins to murmur and mutiny, to faint and fall off. A perillous practiſe in ſuch a dangerous time, and enough to have undone all: as one coward in an army, breaking the array and running away, may ſet the reſt a running, and the day be thereby loſt. Lo, this was Judah, whoſe ſcutcheon was a Lion: but here unlike himſelf.
The ſtrength of the bearers of burdens is decayed] Very ſpecious reaſons: they alledge: their ſhoulders aked, their ſtrength was gone, there was no end of their pains-taking, their work grew upon them, &c. The truth was, deerat ignis, deerat animus, they were weary of well-doing, and not valiant for the truth, Jer. 9.3. More like they were to thoſe fugitives of Ephraim, Judg. 12.4. then the Lions of the Tribe of Judah. Nehemiah therefore might well have ſaid to them as Alexander once did to a faint-hearted ſouldier of his, that was of his own name, Either leave off the name of Alexander, or be valiant. So, either hold out, and bear up under your burdens, or be Judah no more.
So that we are not able] Never was any thing too hard for Alexander; becauſe he never held any thing impoſſible to be effected.
Verſe 11. And our adverſaries ſaid] But their plot was ſome way diſcovered, and ſo prevented. Detexit facinus fatuus & non implevit, ſaith Tacitus of one in his time. So the Gun-powder-traytours betrayed themſelves; and all came to light, though they had digg'd as low as hell to hide their counſels from the Lord.
They ſhall not know, neither ſee] But what ſhall he do who is Omniſcient and foreign, All-eye? whoſe providence is like a well-drawn picture that vieweth all that comes into a roome.
Till we came into the middeſt among them] Either in the night undiſcerned; or by day, but unarmed, and not as enemies: for the Florentine Secretary, though not yet (nor of many ages after) born into the world; yet the good of this world was as great a Maſter then, as afterwards.
And ſtay them, and cauſe the work to ceaſe] The craft of the Churches adverſaries is never but accompanied with cruelty: and their cruelty is ſeldome without craft. The Devil lends them his ſeven heads to plot, and his ten hornes to puſh: but in the thing wherein they deale proudly, God is above theſe cruell-crafties.
Verſe 12. And it came to paſſe, that when the Jewes which dwelt by them ſaw] Their brethren from abroad gave the workmen intelligence; and this was a very friendly office: for praemonitus praemunitus, premonition is the beſt means of prevention. It is the property of a brother, though at other times not ſo kinde, yet in affliction and extremity, to finde nature working in him, and to do his beſt. See Prov. 17.17. with the Note.
They ſaid unto us ten times] i. e. often-times; Gen. 3.41. Num. 14.22. The Lord knoweth how to deliver his, as he did David from Saul, Peter from the Jewes, Acts 12. Paul from thoſe Conſpiratours, Acts 23. and this ſinful nation oft from the blood-thirſty Papiſts. Maſſes were ſaid in Rome for the good ſucceſſe of the Catholike deſigne (the Powder-plot:) but no prayers in England, for our deliverance: and yet they were defeated (Sorex ſuo periit indicio) and we delivered. Admirable mercy.
From all places whence ye ſhall returne, &c.] Some read it thus, And it came to paſſe, when the Jewes which dwelt beſide them, came and told us of their practiſes ten times out of all places, whence they came unto us, I ſet in the low places &c. And here, I cannot tell, ſaith one, whether theſe Intelligencers be worthy more praiſe, or diſpraiſe. It was their duty to have come home, ſtood in ſtormes, and help to build Jeruſalem. But God which turneth our negligence and fooliſhneſſe to the ſetting forth of his wiſdom and goodneſſe, gave them a good will and boldneſſe to further that building as they might. Thus God uſeth the ſervice of all men and creatures to the comfort of his people.
Verſe 13. Therefore I ſet in the lower places] I took them off their work, and appointed them to ſtand upon their guard; appointing them their ſeveral ſtations, and giving them orders.
I even ſet the people after their families] Or, according to their kindreds: for he knew that Nature will move one kinſman to be truer to another in all dangers, then a ſtranger: and that one kinſman will open his grief to his friend, and take comfort at his hand, rather then to him whom he knoweth not. Hence Nehemiah in policy ſorted his ſouldiers after this ſort.
With their ſwords, their ſpears, and their bowes] Theſe were the ancient weapons of war: neither had Death yet learned to cut his way thorough a wood of men, but of the mouth of a murthering piece. Whether the Emperour Wenceſlaus did well or ill in executing Barthold Swarts for inventing Gun-powder Anno Domini 1378. I determine not.
Verſe 14. And I looked, and roſe up) Et vidi, & ſurrexi, & dixi, ſo the original runs. He ſaw the enemy a coming, he ſtarted up; and he made this excellent exhortation: which puts me in minde of that which one once ſaid of Julius Caeſar, Si acta ejus penitus ignoraſſes, per linguam tauen militem eſſe diceres.If you had never known him to have been a ſouldier; yet hear him but ſpeak only, and you will conclude him to be one.
And ſaid unto the Nobles] In a ſhort, but pithy Oration: ſuch as was that of Joab, 2 Sam. 10.12. (of which Pellican ſaith, Non potuit vox duce dignior cogitari, as brave a ſpeech as a man could make) Or that of Hunniades about to joyne battel with the Turks (ſee Turk. Hiſt. fol. 272.) Or laſtly, that of the Prince of Orange at the battel of Newport; where they had the Sea on one ſide, and the Spaniards on the other. If, ſaid he, you will live, you muſt either eate up theſe Spaniards, or drink up this Sea. So here, Either you muſt fight luſtily, or all you have is forfeited aſſuredly.
Be not ye afraid of them] Away with that cowardly paſſion, which unmans a man, & rectam tollit de cardine mentem, robs him of all power and policy.
Remember the Lord] Whom he that feareth needs fear none elſe: The name of the Lord is a ſtrong tower, &c.
Who is great and terrible] For the defence of his people, and offence of his enemies. The Lord is a man of war; Exod. 15.3. Yea, he alone is a whole army of men, Van and Reare both, Eſay 52.12. And may better ſay to his ſouldiers then Antigonus did to his, when they were afraid of the enemies numbers, How many do ye reckon me for?
And fight for your brethren] Whether by Race, or Religion.
Your ſonnes and your daughters] Thoſe foreign, as the Greeks call them, Chariſſimi; as the Latines; deareſt pledges.
Your wives and your houſes] In the laſt Commandment houſes are ſet firſt before wives, becauſe a houſe is to be firſt provided; neither will a wiſe man take a wife before he hath an houſe. Here wives are ſet before houſes; becauſe far more precious, and a maine part of a mans ſelf, Epheſ. 5.28. Houſe and riches are the inheritance of the fathers, but a prudent wife is of the Lord, Prov. 19.14. She was on of the firſt real and royal gifts beſtowed by God upon Adam. By the way note, that if men may fight for their civil right to their houſes and lands, have they not as good warrant to fight for their Religion, eſpecially ſince they have the Lawes of the Land for it; and beſides, a civil right at leaſt to the outward peaceable profeſſion and practiſe of it? The Athenians themſelves (though their Religion was no better then ſuperſtition, Acts 17.22.) Yet they bound themſelves by a publike and ſolemne oath, to defend it to the utmoſt.foreign. The words of the oath were theſe; I will fight for the Temples and holy rites, both alone, and with others.
Verſe 15. And it came to paſſe when the enemies heard] This rumour was enough to affray theſe no leſſe (now) timorous then (before) temerarious Samaritans: Great bragges they made at firſt what they would do; but now that they ſee they are defeated of their purpoſe, they are creſt-fallen, and have no minde at all to advance. So that to theſe may be fitly applyed that which Gaicciardine ſaith of Charles the eighth King of France in his expedition againſt Naples, that he came into the field like thunder and lightning, but went out like a ſnuff: more then a man at firſt, and leſſe then a woman at laſt.
And God had brought their counſel to nought] According to that of the Pſalmiſt, The Lord bringeth the counſel of the Heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counſel of the Lord ſtandeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations, Pſal. 33.10, 11. Here good men may learn, ſaith One, not to go nakedly, without weapons for their own neceſſary defence: and much leſſe, ſaid I, without their ſpiritual weapons (whether defenſive, as the ſhield of faith, the breaſt-plate of righteouſneſſe,Eph. 6. &c. or offenſive, as the Sword of the ſpirit the Word, and the darts of prayer) leſt they be ſurprized and ſubjugated by that old manſlayer.
That we returned all of us to the Wall] Not to the Tavern to toſſe pots (ſaith One) and boaſt of their great Victory: but in the fear of God they return to the Walls, and every man falleth to his work again. All Hiſtories declare, that the greateſt Kingdoms, when they fell to idleneſſe and luxury, then they loſt their former glory faſter then they won it. The Turkiſh Empire is thought to be on the declining hand,Turk. Hiſt. becauſe their late Emperours do far degenerate from their warlike progenitours, their Souldiers generally give themſelves to unwonted pleaſures, their ancient diſcipline of War is neglected, rebellions raiſed, &c.
Verſe 16. And it came to paſſe from that time forth] As it is ſtoried of that peerleſſe Q. Elizabeth, that in times of greateſt Peace, ſhe ever made preparation for War: ſo did this incomparable Nehemiah; ſtill fearing ſome new practiſe, and not knowing what thoſe reſtleſſe heads were even now a hammering.
That the half of my ſervants wrought in the work] No ſervants they were for Nehemiah, if they would not work. He was an active man himſelf, trading every talent: and thoſe about him muſt all be active. One would wonder how this Courtier ſhould become on the ſudden ſo cunning a Souldier, and ſhould marſhal his men ſo skilfully, ſetting the younger before to bear the brunt of the battel, and the Elders behind to direct and encourage, according to that of the Poet.
foreign.
But it was his God that inſtructed him to this diſcretion and taught him, Eſay 28.26. and he might well break out and ſing with David, Bleſſed be the Lord my ſtrength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight, Pſal. 144.1. Quando Chriſtus Magiſter, quàm citò dicitur quod docetur? ſaith Auſtin. Gods Scholars muſt needs be exact in a ſhort ſpace.
And the habergeons] Theſe were armour for back and breaſt. In the Chriſtian Panoply there's no mention of armour for the back (though there is for the breaſt;) becauſe a Chriſtian Souldier ſhould never flie,Eph. 6. but be like Androclid, whom when one derided, becauſe, being lame, he went into the war, he anſwered merrily, that he came thither to fight, not to run away.
Verſe 17. They which builded on the wall] The Maſter-Maſons, and they that bare burthens, Bajuli, Labourers and Porters, who bear upon their ſhoulders, as much as they can ſtand under, yet go ſinging oft under their burdens: the reaſon whereof Alexander Aphrodiſaeus ſaith is this, that their minds being delighted with the ſweetneſſe of the muſick, the body may be the leſſe ſenſible of the weight they carry. But theſe burden-bearers had little mind to ſing, their lives being in ſuſpence. And yet, as worthy workmen, they went on with the Wall.
Every one with one of his hands wrought, and in the other hand had a weapon] Id eſt, When they were buſieſt in building, they had their weapons in a readineſſe to reſiſt. What a goodly ſight was this? ſaith one, to ſee every one ſo full of courage, that they feared not the enemy; and ſo willing to work, that they would not be weaty. Let Chriſtian men look into this notable example, and be aſhamed of their ſlothfulneſſe, &c.
Verſe 18. For the builders every one had his ſword girded by his ſide] Heb. On his loynes: that's the place for the ſword to hang on, Pſal. 45.3. Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh O moſt mighty. And Rev. 19.16. Chriſts Name is written upon his veſture, that all may ſee it, and upon his thigh, where his ſword hangs, to ſhew that he won it by his valour. Among the Turks at this day,S. H. Blunt. 94. Ibid. 70. as the right hand is held uppermoſt for a Scholar, ſo the left for a Souldier; becauſe it gives a man poſſeſſion of his companions ſword: though the Turks ſeldome bear weapons but in travel; and then ſome of them ſeeme no leſſe like a walking, then theſe builders did like a working Armourie.
Verſe 19. And I ſaid unto the Nobles, &c.] Nehemiah the more a man obſerveth him, the more he ſhall admire him. Surely he was (as Velleius ſaith of Cato Major) homo virtuti ſimillimus, a man as like vertue as might be: He was (as Pliny ſaith of the ſame Cato) optimus Orator, optimus Imperator, optimus Senator, omniumque bonarum artium Magiſter, an excellent Oratour,Vell. lib. 2. an excellent General, an excellent Stateſman, a Maſter of all good arts whatſoever. He had cropt off the very tops of all vertues, as Pindarus ſaith of Hiero, foreign.and as Melancthon ſaith of Frederick the Electour of Saxony. From the builders here be turneth him to the Nobles and Rulers &c. whom he would not have to be Carpet-knights, fitter for a canopy then a Camp, for language then a lance, &c. but active in their orbe, and ready preſt to ſerve in watching, warding, and preparing things neceſſary for the workmen.
The work is great and large] The compaſſe of the Walls at this time is thought by good writers to be certain miles about: and yet was enlarged as much afterwards by Herod.
And we are ſeparated upon the Wall] According to our diviſions, noted chap. 3.1. &c. and this is a weapon in the hand of our enemies: for dum pugnamus ſinguli, vincamur univerſi, being diſperſed, we are much diſadvantaged.
Verſe 20. In what place therefore ye hear the ſound of the Trumpet] Which therefore, for the purpoſe he kept at his own elbow, verſe 18. as a matter of truſt, and importance. Moſes committed the blowing of the Trumpets unto the ſonnes of Aaron only, Num. 10. for if the Trumpet give an uncertain ſound, who ſhall prepare himſelf to the battel? 1 Cor. 14.8.
Reſort you thither unto us] As to your Rendevous, that we may ſtand againſt the Enemy in an entire body; mean while Nehemiah walketh the round, and watcheth the Enemies motions, ſo that of him might be ſaid, as once was of Hannibal, Nullo labore aut corpus fatigari, aut animus vinci poterat, he was indefatigable, inſuperable: or as of Fabius Maximus.Liv. decad. 3. lib. 1.
Hic patria eſt, murique urbis ſtant pectore in uno.Si… …tal.
Our God ſhall fight for us] Courage therefore, my hearts, He is the Lord; Strong, and Mighty, the Lord Mighty in battel, Pſal. 24.8. and may far better ſay then Henry the eighth did, Cui adhaereo, prae eſt, he whom I fight for, is ſure to prevail.
Verſe 21. So we laboured in the work] Their fear of the enemy did not weaken them, but waken them rather to a redoubled diligence.
From the riſing of the Sun till the Stars appeared] Time was precious: and they redeemed and improved it. The common complaint is, We want time: but the truth is, Non parùm habemus temporis, ſed multùm perdimus. We do not ſo much want, as waſte it. The good man is perdius & pernox, night and day at his buſineſſe: and his thoughts are the ſame with thoſe of Rabbi Simeon, Dies brevis eſt, & opus multum, & operarii pigri, & paterfamilias urget, The time is ſhort, the task large, the workmen lither, the maſter of the houſe urgent.
Verſe 22. Likewiſe at the ſame time I ſaid unto the people] He had a ſaying to every one: and having ordered the work of the day, he appointeth a watch for the night ſeaſon alſo: for they had many falſe friends within themſelves too. Caeſars vigilancy did ever equal his valour: ſo did Nehemiahs.
Verſe 23. So neither I] He ſaid not to his men, Ite, but eamus, as Caeſar did; Go ye, but go we, and as Abimelech, Judg. 9.48. What ye ſee me do, make haſte and do accordingly: Velleius flattered when he ſaid, Tiberius imperio maximus, exemplo major. Nehemiah was ſo in very deed.
Saving that every one put them off for waſhing] To keep themſelves cleanly, and from being naſty: or otherwiſe, to waſh themſelves from legal pollutions.