Nehemiah 4:20

Neh 4:20 In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

Ver. 20. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet] Which, therefore, for the purpose he kept at his own elbow, Neh 4:18, as a matter of trust and importance. Moses committed the blowing of the trumpets unto the sons of Aaron only, Num 10:8. "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" 1Co 14:8.

Resort you thither unto us] As to your rendezvous, that we may stand against the enemy in an entire body; meanwhile Nehemiah walketh the round, and watches the enemies’ motions, so that of him might be said, as once was of Hannibal, Nullo labore aut corpus fatigari, aut animus vinci poterat, he was indefatigable, insuperable (Liv. decad. 3, lib. 1), or as of Fabius Maximus.

Hic patria est, murique urbis stant pectore in uno (Sil. Ital.).

Our God shall fight for us] Courage therefore my hearts, he is "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle," Psa 24:8, and may far better say than Henry VIII did, Cui adhaereo praeest, he whom I fight for is sure to prevail.

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_4:20

So we laboured in the work.

Perseverance

The builders not only began well, but they persevered to the end of their work. Perseverance is s great element of success. It was George Stephensons motto, Persevere; and the celebrated mathematician, Arago, tells us that his master in mathematics gave a word of advice which he found in the binding of one of his text-books. Puzzled and discouraged by the difficulties he met with in his early studies, he was almost ready to give up the pursuit. Some words which he found on the waste leaf used to stiffen the cover of his paper-bound text-book caught his eye, and interested him. It proved to be a short letter from DAlembert to a young person disheartened, like himself, by the difficulties of mathematical study, and who had written to him for counsel. Go on, go on, sir, was the counsel which DAlembert gave him. The difficulties you meet will resolve themselves as you advance. This maxim followed out made him one of the greatest astronomers of his day. And Christians must persevere in the work of God. (J. M. Randall.)

Perseverance

A Christian negro was once asked the meaning of perseverance, and he said, Masse, me think it mean hang on, hold fast, and no let go. And when some one questioned John Wesley on the remarkable success of his followers, Sir, he said, they are all at it, and always at it. (J. M. Randall.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4:20 our God will fight for us! Drawing on Israel’s ancient holy war tradition (Exod 14:14; Deut 1:30; 20:4; Josh 10:14; 23:10), Nehemiah encouraged the people that victory was certain if they trusted in the Lord.

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

Meaning, to resist their enemies, if need required.

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

Verse 20. Ye hear the sound of the trumpet] As the walls were very extensive, and the workmen consequently much scattered, their enemies might easily attack and destroy them successively, he therefore ordered them all to work as near to each other as they could; and himself, who was everywhere surveying the work, kept a trumpeter always with him, who was to sound when the enemy approached; and all were instantly to run to the place where they heard the sound.

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

20. In what place therefore] R.V. in what place soever.

resort ye thither] literally ‘thither shall ye collect or assemble yourselves together’.

our God shall fight for us] The Jews shall fight, and even against foes superior in numbers and strength shall prevail. Their God shall fight for them. See also Exo_15:3-6, ‘The Lord is a man of war … Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy;’ Exo_14:14, ‘The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace …’ Cf. Deu_1:30; Deu_3:22; Deu_20:4; Deu_28:7.

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.

In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet,.... Be it what part of the wall soever they were at work, even the most distant:

resort ye thither to us; to Nehemiah, and the half of his servants armed, where the trumpet was blown; that was to be the place of rendezvous:

our God shall fight for us; and give us victory over our enemies; none have any reason to be intimidated, when they shall hear the sound of the trumpet.

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

For us. Yet we must act with prudence and courage. (Haydock)

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).