Nehemiah 2:18

Neh 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for [this] good [work].

Ver. 18. Then I told them of the hand of my God] i.e., of his gracious providence in prospering me in all.

As also the king’s words] Which were likewise very gracious and comfortable. Now he that hath both God and the king on his side, what would he have more?

And they said, Let us rise up and build] So forcible are right words, delivered in a mild and moderate manner, as here. Let us rise, say they. Let us linger no longer, but speedily fall to labour; and recover that with our diligence that our fathers lost by their disobedience.

So they strengthened their hands for this good work] They took courage, and went an end with it. So much good may one man of place, power, and zeal do for the Church, by stirring up to love and good works. It is said of the precious stone Pyrites, that it puts not forth its fiery power till well rubbed; and then it is so hot that it burneth one’s fingers.

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.

2:18 Evidence of God’s clear involvement (2:8) is a strong motivator in any project. Nehemiah had God’s guidance, the king’s permission, the necessary letters to procure lumber, and a plan to lead the project. So the people enthusiastically agreed to begin working.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

They were encouraged, and gave themselves to do well, and to travel in this worthy enterprise.

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

Verse 18. Then I told them] He opened to them his design and his commission.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) Then I told them.—Nehemiah relates his providential call, with the king’s commission, and the people were thoroughly enlisted in the good cause.

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

18. the hand of my God] Cf. Neh_2:8. The blessing which had so far attended his plan.

as also the king’s words] R.V. as also of, &c. He reported the substance of the king’s words, which the compiler has not given us.

Let us rise up and build] The people responded with enthusiasm.

So they strengthened their hands] The presence of enemies on every side made the undertaking hazardous. At the same time the need of courage will be more obvious if we accept the theory of a recent hostile attack (cf. note on Neh_1:2). The versions render the verb in the passive, LXX. ἐκραταιώθησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν, Vulg. confortatae sunt manus eorum, which is followed by Luther, ‘ihre Hände wurden gestärkt.

for this good work] R.V. for the good work. Literally, ‘for the good,’ the same expression as ‘the well-fare’ in Neh_2:10. LXX. εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν, Vulg. in bono.

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.

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian,.... This third man might be both an Arabian by birth, and governor of some part of Arabia near Judea:

heard it; of their beginning to build:

they laughed us to scorn, and despised us; as very silly people, that undertook what they could never perform:

and said; adding threatenings to their scoffs:

what is this thing that ye do? do ye know what ye are about? have ye any authority to do it? it is unlawful, you will certainly suffer for it:

will ye rebel against the king? the king of Persia; it will be deemed rebellion and treason, and you will be taken up and treated as rebels and traitors; take care what you do, be it at your peril if you proceed.

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

The king’s words - These have not been given; but the royal permission to restore the walls is implied in Neh 2:5-6.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Hand. God had manifested his goodness and power, at the court of Persia. (Worthington)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

18. The king’s words — Nehemiah informed them, doubtless, not only of what the king had spoken to him, but also of the letters of authority which he held from the king.

They strengthened their hands — Encouraged each other, and set vigorously about the work.

For this good work — Literally, for good. Vatablus explains it, on account of the favour of God and of the king. But the words seem better taken in the more general sense which the literal rendering gives; they encouraged one another for good, not for evil; they set about the work with a good will.

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

Then I told them of the hand of my God. Nehemiah sketched the history of his past life, and showed how God"s providence had always shielded him and supported him. This, however, would scarcely have had any great effect had he not been able to appeal further to the king"s words that he had spoken. These words clearly contained permission to rebuild the wall, and took away the danger of their so doing being regarded as an act of rebellion by the Persians. What others might think was not of very much account. And they said, Let us rise up and build. Nehemiah"s address had all the effect he hoped for from it. He was anxious to carry the nation with him, and induce them, one and. all, to engage heartily in the work, which must be accomplished, if it was to be accomplished at all, by something like a burst of enthusiasm. Such a burst he evokes, and its result is seen in the next chapter. Almost the whole people came forward, and set to work with zeal So they strengthened their hands for this good work. The original is briefer, and more emphatic they strengthened their hands for good." They embraced the good cause, took the good part, set themselves to work heartily on the right side.

Mutual encouragement.

"And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work." Narrates the effect produced on all classes at Jerusalem by Nehemiah"s address.

I WHAT MOVED THEM.

1. There was a plain need for energetic and united action.

2. They had a good leader. Competent, resolute, courageous, generous, devoted, self-denying; and withal having authority.

3. There were many encouragements and helps.

4. In all, the will and favourable providence of God seemed manifest.

II TO WHAT IT LED THEM.

1. Ardent enthusiasm.

2. Resolute determination.

3. Mutual exhortation. "Let us rise up and build.

4. Confidence and courage.

5. All combining to impart vigour for the work.

"They strengthened their hands," braced themselves "for the good work." Note throughout that Christians have similar incentives to their work, and should be similarly affected by them. There is sadder and more wide-spread ruin to move our hearts; we have a Divine leader; the word, the grace, and the providence of God combine to urge and encourage us. Let us "provoke" one another "to love and good works," and give ourselves to them with unanimous zeal, resolution, and confidence; thus "strengthening our hands for the good work."

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

Rise up - Let us do it with vigour, and diligence, and resolution, as those that are determined to go through with it. Their hands - Their own and one anothers.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

To gain the favourable regard of the assembly for his design, he informs them how God had so far prospered his undertaking: I told them of the hand of my God, that it = that the hand my God had graciously provided for me, i.e., that God had so graciously arranged my journey to Jerusalem; and the king's words that he had spoken to me, sc. with respect to the building of the wall, of which we are told Neh 2:8 only thus much, that the king gave orders to the keeper of the royal forest to give him wood for building. Encouraged by this information, the assembly exclaimed, "Let us arise and build;" and "they strengthened their hands for good," i.e., they vigorously set about the good work.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

the hand of my God who gave me favor and success before the king.

for good They intended everything for good—to build the wall of the city and its towers.

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.