Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
A group of enemies plan to attack Jerusalem. Nehemiah orders each worker to arm himself and to prepare for attack.
II. Photo
Nehemiah readies the people by the wall: “When you hear a shofar blast, gather yourselves to me at that place; our God will fight for us!” (v. 14)
III. Important Verses
vv. 1-3: When Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that healing had come to the walls of Jerusalem, that the breached parts had begun to be filled, it angered them very much, and they all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to throw it into confusion. Because of them we prayed to our God, and set up a watch over them day and night.
vv. 10-11: From that day on, half my servants did work and half held lances and shields, bows and armor. And the officers stood behind the whole house of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. The basket-carriers were burdened, doing work with one hand while the other held a weapon.
vv. 13-14: I said to the nobles, the prefects, and the rest of the people, “There is much work and it is spread out; we are scattered over the wall, far from one another. When you hear a trumpet call, gather yourselves to me at that place; our God will fight for us!”
v. 17: Nor did I, my brothers, my servants, or the guards following me ever take off our clothes, [or] each his weapon, even at the water.
IV. Outline
1-2. Enemy plans
3. Recounting prayer
4. Doubt
5-6. Enemy plans
7-17. The people prepare for attack
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo taken from http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/tn/2354/250/0