Nehemiah 6:13

Neh 6:13 Therefore [was] he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

Ver. 13. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid] But they were much mistaken in their aims: this matter was not malleable. Nehemiah was a man of another spirit, of a Caleb-like spirit; he was fide armatus, Deo armatus, soldier by faith and for God, and therefore undaunted; he was full of spiritual mettle, for he knew whom he had trusted.

And do so, and sin] Nehemiah feared nothing but sin, and the fruit thereof, shame and reproach, so great was his spirit, so right set were both his judgment and affections. But if anything would have drawn him aside from the straight ways of the Lord, base fear was the likeliest; as we see in David at Gath, and Peter in the high priest’s hall. See Zep 3:13, {See Trapp on "Zep 3:13"} Pessimus in dubiis augur Timor.

And that they might have matter for an evil report] This wicked men watch for, as a dog doth for a bone; and if they get but the least hint, oh how happy do they hold themselves! what wide mouths do they open! &c. It is our part, therefore (by a Nehemiah-like conversation), to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, who, like blackamoors, despise beauty; like dogs, bark at the shining of the moon. Of Luther it was said by Erasmus, Nec hostes reperiant quod calumnientur. Of Bishop Hooper it is said, that his life was so good that no kind of slander (although divers went about to reprove it) could fasten any fault upon him (Act. and Mon. 1366). The like is reported of Bradford and Bucer. We should so carry ourselves, ut nemo de nobis maleloqui absque mendacio possit, as Jerome hath it, that none might speak evil of us without a manifest lie.

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_6:13

Therefore was he hired.

Bribery

I. Its existence and varieties.

1. In statecraft.

2. In trade.

3. In morals and religion.

II. Its effects.

1. Personal degradation.

2. General disorganisation.

3. Hindrance of all good.

III. Its cure.

1. Self-denial.

2. Resolute unmercifulness to the briber.

3. Trust in God and faith in right. (Homiletic Commentary.)

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

Neh 6:13. That I should be afraid, and do so, and sin — By going into a place forbidden to me, and that in such a manner, which would have been both sinful and shameful. That they might reproach me — As a coward, and conscious of my own guilt, that they might make me contemptible and odious, both to my own people and to the king of Persia.

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

(13) An evil report.—Nehemiah perceived that not God, but Shemaiah himself, had uttered the prophecy “against me,” and that he was hired to bring the governor into discredit as a violator of law.

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

13. Therefore] R.V. For this cause.

and sin] i.e. by transgressing ‘the law,’ by violating the sanctity of the House of God.

matter for an evil report] Literally, ‘and that it might be to them for an evil name.’ The Vulgate gives the sense generally ‘et haberent malum quod exprobrarent mihi.’ The LXX. goes wrong, καὶ γένωμαι αὐτοῖς εἰς ὄνομα πονηρόν. The phrase ‘an evil name’ occurs also in Deu_22:14; Deu_22:19 in the sense ‘an evil report.’

Nehemiah would incur ‘an evil name’ with the priestly class and the strict Jews for consulting his personal safety rather than the sanctity of the law. Such conduct would weaken his hold upon the best people of the nation. Cf. Psa_38:16, ‘For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.’

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.

Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so,

and sin,.... By distrusting the power and providence of God to protect him, and by going into such a part of the temple, which he, being no priest, had no right to go into:

and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me; as a rebel and traitor against the king, which had been reported of him, and which would be strengthened by such a step.

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

Sin, by taking any false step, so as to offend the people.

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).

That I should do so, and sin, by going into a place forbidden to me, and that in such a time and manner, and upon such an occasion; which would have been both sinful and shameful: See Poole "Neh 6:11".

That they might reproach me as a coward, and conscious of my own guilt, that so they might make me contemptible and odious, both to my own people, and to the king of Persia.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Therefore was he hired, etc. Their motive for bribing him was, that I might be induced by-fear to do as Shemaiah suggested, and so to commit sin; whereby they would have a just ground for spreading an evil report concerning me, and making my misconduct a constant reproach to me. Nehemiah"s influence depended greatly on the weight of his moral character. One false step, and he would have been lost; his influence would have been gone; and the work on which his heart was set would have come to nought.

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

And sin - By going into a place forbidden to me, and that in such a manner, which would have been both sinful and shameful. Reproach - As a coward, and conscious of my own guilt, that they might make me contemptible and odious both to my own people, and to the king of Persia.

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

Because he was hired he told me these things.

in order that I fear in order that I fear them, to do this to enter the Temple and sin.

so that they should have this for a scandal in order that they should have this as a scandal to reproach me with this sin.

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.