SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:11
Y nuestros enemigos dijeron: No sepan, ni vean, hasta que entremos en medio de ellos, y los matemos, y hagamos cesar la obra.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. And our adversaries said, they shall not know , etc.] Our designs upon them: neither see ; or perceive what we are about to do: till we come in the midst of them ; with an army suddenly, at an unawares, and unexpected: and slay them ; they being unarmed, and not prepared to defend themselves: and cause the work to cease ; as it must in course, the builders being slain. Ver. 12 And it came to pass, when the Jews that dwelt by them , etc.] Near Samaria, Arabia, and Ashdod, and had intelligence of their designs: came, they said to us ten times ; that is, they came to them at Jerusalem, and often told them, as this phrase “ten times” signifies, (see Gill on “ Genesis 31:7”), from all places whence ye shall return unto us : they will be upon you, come which way you will, so that ye are in the utmost danger: or “from all places”; where you are repairing and rebuilding: return to us ; that ye may enjoy peace and prosperity with us under Sanballat, etc. and escape the wrath and fury you are now exposed to; or “from all places we come, that ye may return to us”; so De Dieu; these Jews, though they pretended to be friends, to their brethren, yet seemed to be in friendship with their enemies, and sought to discourage them, and weaken their minds, and cause them to cease building.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-15 - The hindering good work is what bad men aim at, and promise themselve success in; but good work is God's work, and it shall prosper. God ha many ways of bringing to light, and so of bringing to nought, the devices and designs of his church's enemies. If our enemies cannot frighten us from duty, or deceive us into sin, they cannot hurt us Nehemiah put himself and his cause under the Divine protection. It wa the way of this good man, and should be our way. All his cares, all his griefs, all his fears, he spread before God. Before he used any means he made his prayer to God. Having prayed, he set a watch against the enemy. If we think to secure ourselves by prayer, without watchfulness we are slothful, and tempt God; if by watchfulness, without prayer, we are proud, and slight God: either way, we forfeit his protection. God' care of our safety, should engage and encourage us to go on with vigou in our duty. As soon as a danger is over, let us return to our work and trust God another time.
Original Hebrew
ויאמרו 559 צרינו 6862 לא 3808 ידעו 3045 ולא 3808 יראו 7200 עד 5704 אשׁר 834 נבוא 935 אל 413 תוכם 8432 והרגנום 2026 והשׁבתנו 7673 את 853 המלאכה׃ 4399
