Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:15
Verse 15. The twenty and fifth-of-Elul] This Jewish month answers to a part of our August and September. Fifty and two days.] I see no difficulty in supposing that several thousand workmen, each of whom was working as for God, should be able to complete this wall in fifty-two days. There is little doubt that several parts of the old wall were entire; in many places the foundations still remained; there were all the materials of the old wall still at hand; and though they had to clear and carry away much rubbish, yet they do not appear to have had any stones to quarry. The work mentioned here was little when compared to what Caesar did in Gaul and other places; and to what Titus did at Jerusalem, who built a wall round Jerusalem of five thousand paces in three days, besides, thirteen towers of ten stadia in circuit. And Quintus Curtius and Arrian inform us that Alexander the Great built the walls of Alexandria, on the Tanais, which were nearly eight miles in compass, in the space of between twenty and thirty days.
Nehemiah therefore had time sufficient in fifty-two days to repair and restore the walls of Jerusalem. See Calmet on this place.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. So the wall was finished in the twenty fifth day of the month Elul , etc.] The sixth month, answering to part of August and part of September: in fifty and two days ; which Aben Ezra reckons from the time that Sanballat sent his letter to Nehemiah, when no more were wanting than to set the doors upon the gates, ( Nehemiah 6:1), but rather these, with Jarchi, must be reckoned from the time the building was begun; which, reckoning back from the twenty fifth of Elul, it will appear it was begun the third day of the fifth month Ab; nor need this be thought incredible, considering the number of workmen, their ardour and diligence in building, and that the walls were not wholly built all around, only repaired, and breaches made up, and much of the old materials were made use of, which were at hand, and stone unhewed, and especially being attended with the blessing of God, which succeeded the undertaking: nor are there wanting examples similar to this; and as it is observed by many from Curtius f36 , the walls of new Alexandria, which were sixty furlongs in length, or more than seven miles, were finished in seventeen days; if Nicephorus is to be credited, the high walls which surrounded Constantinople, and were twenty miles in circumference, were finished in two months time. Josephus is not to be regarded, who, contrary to the Scriptures says f38 , this wall of Jerusalem was two years and four months in building.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-19 - The wall was begun and finished in fifty-two days, though they reste on the sabbaths. A great deal of work may be done in a little time, i we set about it in earnest, and keep close to it. See the mischief of marrying with strangers. When men once became akin to Tobiah, they soo became sworn to him. A sinful love leads to a sinful league. The enem of souls employs many instruments, and forms many projects, to brin reproach on the active servants of God, or to take them from their work. But we should follow the example of Him who laid down his lif for the sheep. Those that simply cleave to the Lord and his work wil be supported __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ותשׁלם 7999 החומה 2346 בעשׂרים 6242 וחמשׁה 2568 לאלול 435 לחמשׁים 2572 ושׁנים 8147 יום׃ 3117
