Nehemiah 2:17

Neh 2:17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

Ver. 17. Then said I unto them] Then, when I saw it a fit season to say it. It is an excellent skill to time a word, Isa 50:4. To circumstantiate it aright, Pro 25:11. That it may run as upon wheels: Nehemiah’s words do so, notably. Verba prius ad limam revocata, quam ad linguam, words well weighed ere uttered. Nescit paenitenda loqui qui proferenda prius sue tradidit examini, He cannot but speak wisely who speaketh warily.

Jerusalem lieth waste] i.e., open to the spoiler; as the pope made account this land was in Henry VIII’s time, when he had given it primo occupaturo, to him that should first invade and seize it.

Come, and let us build, &c.] With forces united, with one shoulder, Multorum manibus grande levatur onus.

That we be no more a reproach] Quam multa quam paucis! How much in a little! said Cicero of Brutus’s laconical epistle; and the like may we say of this pithy and pathetic speech. Those that love to hear themselves talk, saith Bishop Pilkington upon this text, and with many words to colour their ill meaning, may here learn how a simple truth, plainly told in few words, worketh more in good men’s hearts than a painted tale that hath little truth and less good meaning in it. An honest matter speaketh for itself, and needeth no colouring; and he that useth most flattering and subtle words maketh wise men mistrust the matter to be ill. A few words well placed are much better than a long unsavoury tale. Thus he.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Neh 2:17-18. That we be no more a reproach — Exposed to the scorn and insults of the people around about. I told them of the hand of my God, &c. — That is, he informed them how favourable God had made the king to him, and what discourse he had had with him, and what authority and commission he had received from him. They said, Let us rise up and build — Let us begin and proceed with vigour, diligence, and resolution, as those that are determined to go through with the work. They strengthened their hands — Their own and one another’s.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

PREPARATIONS TO BUILD, Neh_2:17-18.

17. Ye see the distress — The same word is rendered affliction in Neh_1:3. Nehemiah had now seen with his own eyes that the report was true which informed him in Shushan of the desolation of Jerusalem. The distress to which the Jews were subjected by inability to rebuild their city, so long desolate, could be regarded by them in no other light than as a reproach.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, contemned of other nations, as though God had forsaken us.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(17) Then.—There is no note of time. When his plans were matured, Nehemiah made an earnest appeal to their patriotism.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17. Nehemiah’s appeal. It is implied that Nehemiah having satisfied himself as to the practicability of his plan called an assembly of those mentioned in the previous verse. How soon after his nocturnal ride is not stated.

the distress] R.V. the evil case, the same word as in Neh_1:1

Jerusalem lieth waste, &c.] Cf. Neh_2:3.

that we be no more a reproach] See Neh_1:3, where the words ‘affliction’ and ‘reproach’ are the same as the ‘distress’ or ‘evil case,’ and ‘reproach’ in this verse.

a reproach] i.e. an object of reproach by reason of our inability to defend ourselves, cf. Psa_22:6, ‘a reproach of men, and despised of the people;’ Joe_2:19, ‘I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.’ Eze_22:4.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me..... Of the kind providence of God in exalting him in the court of the king of Persia, in giving him an opportunity of laying the sad case of Jerusalem before him, and in inclining his heart to show favour to him, and grant his request:

as also the king's words that he had spoken to me; what passed between them on this subject, the commission he gave him, and the letters he sent by him to his governors on this side the river:

and they said, let us rise up and build; encouraged by this account of things, they proposed to set about the work immediately:

so they strengthened their hands for this good work; animated and encouraged one another to proceed to it at once with cheerfulness, and to go on in it with spirit and resolution.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Then said I unto them. Ewald boldly assumes that this happened the next day; but there is nothing to show that it was so soon. The original contains, no note of time not even the word "then." Nehemiah simply says, "And I said to them." The distress. Or "affliction," as the word is translated in Neh_1:3. No special suffering seems to be intended, beyond that of lying open to attack, and being a "reproach" in the sight of the heathen. Lieth waste. On this hyperbole see the comment upon ver. 3.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

You see the trouble

Here "you" is plural, referring to all the people mentioned in Nehemiah 02:16. (See: Forms of You)

its gates have been destroyed by fire

This can be stated in active form. AT: "how our enemies destroyed its gates by fire" (See: Active or Passive)

so we will no longer be in disgrace

"so we will no longer be ashamed"

the good hand of my God was on me

God's "good hand" represents his "favor." AT: "my God's favor was upon me" (See: Metonymy)

rise up and build

This is an idiom. AT: "begin building" (See: Idiom)

So they strengthened their hands for the good work

The phrase "strengthened their hands" means to prepare to do something. AT: "So they prepared do this good work" (See: Idiom)

translationWords

trouble

Jerusalem

ruin

gate

fire

good

hand

God

king

word

raise

works

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

And I said to them On the morrow I said to them.

and we shall no longer be a reproach that our adversaries should not plunder and pillage us.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.