Opposition to the Work and Defensive Preparations
Nehemiah 4:1-23
Neh.4.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- שמע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- סנבלט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וטוביה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והערבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והעמנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- והאשדודים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- כי: CONJ
- עלתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ארוכה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- לחמות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- החלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הפרצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- להסתם: VERB,hithpael,inf
- ויחר: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Ezra 4:1-5 (verbal): Same hostile figures (Sanballat, Tobiah, and others) oppose Jewish rebuilding efforts immediately after hearing of the work — closely parallel language and situation.
- Nehemiah 2:10 (verbal): Earlier report that Sanballat, Tobiah and the Arabs heard of Nehemiah’s mission and mocked/despised it — same opponents reacting to Jerusalem’s reconstruction.
- Nehemiah 6:1-14 (thematic): Later and fuller account of Sanballat, Tobiah and allies' conspiracies and attempts to intimidate or trap Nehemiah — continuation of the same hostile strategy.
- Psalm 2:1-3 (thematic): General motif of rulers and peoples conspiring against God's anointed and his city — a biblical theme of hostile nations plotting to frustrate God’s purposes, echoed in Neh 4:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was proceeding and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.
- When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the wall of Jerusalem had been raised up to the middle—for the breaches were beginning to be closed—they were very angry.
Neh.4.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקשרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
- יחדו: ADV
- לבוא: VERB,qal,inf
- להלחם: VERB,hitp,inf
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולעשות: CONJ+VERB,qal,inf
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- תועה: VERB,qal,part,ms,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 2:1 (thematic): Nations and peoples conspiring together against what God has established—here the image of collective plotting echoes the conspiratorial language of Nehemiah 4:2.
- Ezra 4:4-5 (structural): Opponents of Jerusalem’s rebuilding hire counselors and work to frustrate the builders—parallel episode of organized opposition to the city’s restoration.
- Nehemiah 6:1-2 (verbal): Later attempt by Sanballat, Tobiah and others to draw Nehemiah into a trap—same opponents scheming together to undermine Jerusalem’s work.
- Psalm 74:3-7 (thematic): Describes hostile forces attacking God’s sanctuary and breaking down its defenses—a thematic parallel of enemy violence and intent to destroy the city/temple.
Alternative generated candidates
- They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to throw it into confusion.
- They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to throw it into confusion.
Neh.4.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתפלל: VERB,hithp,impf,1,_,pl
- אל: NEG
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- ונעמיד: VERB,hiph,impf,1,_,pl
- משמר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- יומם: ADV
- ולילה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפניהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:21 (verbal): Same chapter and context: people organize a guard day and night while others work on the wall (repeats the wording and duty to stand watch).
- Psalm 121:3-4 (thematic): Portrays God as the vigilant keeper who does not slumber or sleep—parallels the concern for protection and reliance on divine guardianship while setting human watches.
- Psalm 127:1-2 (thematic): Emphasizes that human labor and watchfulness are ultimately futile without the LORD’s protection, echoing Nehemiah’s coupling of prayer to God with the establishment of a guard.
- Matthew 26:41 (verbal): Jesus’ injunction “watch and pray” pairs vigilance with prayer—parallel in structure and function to Nehemiah’s simultaneous appeal to God and arrangement of a day‑and‑night guard.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I prayed to our God, and I stationed a watch against them day and night because of them.
- But we prayed to our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them.
Neh.4.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- כשל: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- כח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הסבל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והעפר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- הרבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואנחנו: CONJ+PRON,1,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- נוכל: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- לבנות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- בחומה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Nehemiah 2:17–18 (structural): Earlier in the narrative Nehemiah tells the people of Jerusalem's state and the people respond, 'Let us rise up and build.' This contrasts structurally with Judah’s defeatist claim in 4:4 that the burden and rubbish are too great.
- Nehemiah 2:20 (thematic): Nehemiah asserts that 'the God of heaven will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build,' directly countering the sentiment of inability expressed in 4:4 and framing the work as dependent on divine help.
- Ezra 4:4–5 (thematic): Accounts of adversaries and locals discouraging and obstructing the rebuilding of Jerusalem (seeking to frustrate the work) parallel the theme of opposition and the claim that the builders cannot complete the wall.
- Psalm 127:1 (thematic): 'Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain' echoes the underlying theological point behind Neh.4.4: human strength alone is insufficient for building; success depends on the LORD.
- Haggai 1:2–9 (thematic): The prophet rebukes neglect of the LORD’s house and calls for renewed labor on the sanctuary — a prophetic critique of complacency and misplaced priorities that thematically parallels arguments about inability or unwillingness to rebuild.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the Jews who lived near them said, “The burden is heavy; the rubble is abundant; we cannot rebuild the wall.”
- At that time the Jews said, "The strength of our labour is failing; the rubble is great; we cannot rebuild the wall."
Neh.4.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- צרינו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- יראו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עד: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נבוא: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- אל: NEG
- תוכם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,pr3mp
- והרגנום: VERB,qal,perf,1,-,pl,pr3mp
- והשבתנו: VERB,hiph,perf,1,-,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- המלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Ezra 4:5 (thematic): Opponents discouraged and frightened the builders and used bribery/counsel to frustrate the rebuilding—same hostile intent to stop the work.
- Ezra 4:21-23 (structural): Enemy correspondence to the Persian king led to an official cessation of the temple work—an organized effort to halt construction like the threat in Nehemiah.
- Nehemiah 6:1-2 (thematic): Sanballat, Tobiah, and others plot to meet/entrap Nehemiah and ‘do him harm’—a direct parallel within Nehemiah of conspiracies to kill and stop the rebuilding.
- Psalm 83:3-5 (thematic): A coalition of nations conspires ‘let us cut them off as a nation’—an OT example of coordinated plots to destroy Israel that parallels the murderous intent to halt God’s work.
- John 11:53 (thematic): The Jewish leaders plot to kill Jesus to stop his influence—NT parallel of leaders conspiring to eliminate opponents in order to end their activity.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their enemies said, “They will not know, nor see, until we come into their midst and kill them and stop the work.”
- Our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see until we come among them; then we will kill them and put an end to the work."
Neh.4.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- היהודים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הישבים: PART,qal,ptc,3,m,pl,def
- אצלם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- עשר: NUM,card,m,sg,cons
- פעמים: NOUN,m,du,abs
- מכל: PREP
- המקמות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תשובו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Nehemiah 6:15 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation — reports the completion of the wall, the outcome of the sustained rebuilding effort described in chapter 4.
- Ezra 4:4-5 (thematic): Shows the hostile opposition of surrounding peoples to Judaean building projects, paralleling threats and resistance faced while rebuilding the wall.
- Nehemiah 4:14 (thematic): Nehemiah's exhortation to be alert, not fear, and to fight for family and work — a direct response to the same threats encountered during the building efforts.
- Psalm 127:1 (allusion): Emphasizes that human building succeeds only with the LORD's blessing; complements Nehemiah's emphasis on wholehearted communal labor under divine providence.
- Ezra 3:10-11 (thematic): Depicts communal, religiously-infused labor and public rejoicing at restoration work (laying the temple foundation), paralleling the collective, heartfelt endeavor in Nehemiah.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the Jews who lived near them came to us, they told us ten times over from all the places where they would turn against us.
- When the Jews who lived near them came to us, they would say ten times, "From every place where you turn back, they will be upon us."
Neh.4.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואעמיד: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,impf,1,*,sg
- מתחתיות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- למקום: PREP
- מאחרי: PREP
- לחומה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- בצחיחים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואעמיד: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,impf,1,*,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- למשפחות: NOUN,f,pl,abs,prep:l
- עם: PREP
- חרבתיהם: NOUN,f,sg,suff
- רמחיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- וקשתתיהם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,suff
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:16 (verbal): Directly parallels the image of builders armed on the work: 'the builders, every one with his sword girded by his side' — same juxtaposition of construction and being armed.
- Nehemiah 4:21 (verbal): Describes the guard duty during construction: 'half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning...' — echoes the specific weapons (spears) and the organized defensive posture.
- Nehemiah 4:23 (structural): Shows the sustained readiness of Nehemiah and his guards ('the men of the guard which followed me') and the blending of labor and watch, matching the verse’s function of organizing armed families behind the wall.
- 2 Chronicles 32:5 (thematic): Hezekiah's fortification and armament of Jerusalem ('he built up the upper and lower wall...made weapons and shields') parallels the theme of preparing the city and arming its defenders.
- 1 Chronicles 12:8 (thematic): Lists warriors skilled with shields, spears, and bows — a similar catalogue of arms (shield/spear/bow) and the theme of organizing armed men for the protection of Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- So I stationed men in the vulnerable places behind the wall, at the openings; and I arranged the people by families, with their swords, spears, and bows.
- Therefore I stationed men in the lower places, behind the wall, at the openings; and I set the people by their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
Neh.4.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וארא: VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg
- ואקום: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- החרים: NOUN,prop,m,pl,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- הסגנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- יתר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- מפניהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והנורא: ADJ,m,sg,def
- זכרו: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,pl
- והלחמו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- על: PREP
- אחיכם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,pl
- בניכם: NOUN,m,pl,const+2mp
- ובנתיכם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2mp
- נשיכם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2mp
- ובתיכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:2mp
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 3:22 (verbal): Same exhortation not to fear because the LORD fights for his people — a close verbal/thematic parallel to Nehemiah's 'do not be afraid' and call to remember the Lord.
- Exodus 14:14 (verbal): ‘The LORD will fight for you’—a succinct promise that God fights on behalf of his people, used as reassurance against hostile enemies.
- Joshua 1:9 (thematic): Command to be strong and courageous and not fear because the LORD is with you — echoes Nehemiah's leadership encouragement to trust God in danger.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15–17 (thematic): Jehoshaphat's exhortation ‘Do not be afraid… the battle is not yours but God’s’ — a parallel instance of rallying the people to trust God and stand for their families and nation.
- Nehemiah 4:20 (structural): Immediate chapter parallel: the later exhortation ‘Our God will fight for us’ and the instructions for stations and trumpet-calls reinforce the same assurance and call to stand and fight for families and homes.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I said to the nobles, to the governors, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, the great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
- And I said to the nobles, to the officials, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
Neh.4.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- שמעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- אויבינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- נודע: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- ויפר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- עצתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3mp
- ונשב: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,pl
- כלנו: PRON,1,pl
- אל: NEG
- החומה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- מלאכתו: NOUN,f,sg,cons+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 33:10 (verbal): Declares that the LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing, directly echoing Nehemiah’s report that God frustrated the enemies’ counsel.
- Proverbs 21:30 (verbal): Affirms that no counsel can stand against the LORD, paralleling the idea that the opponents’ plans were nullified by God.
- Isaiah 8:9-10 (thematic): Enemies are urged to conspire and consult, but their plans will be thwarted — a close thematic parallel to plots against Jerusalem being frustrated.
- Proverbs 19:21 (thematic): States that many human plans are overruled by the LORD’s purpose, reflecting the motif of human counsel being nullified by God.
- Job 5:12 (thematic): Speaks of God thwarting the designs of the crafty so their hands achieve no success, resonating with the account of God frustrating the enemies’ counsel.
Alternative generated candidates
- When our enemies heard that it was known to us, God frustrated their counsel, and all of us returned to the wall, each to his work.
- When our enemies heard that it had been made known to us, God frustrated their counsel; and we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work.
Neh.4.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- חצי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נערי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- במלאכה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וחצים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מחזיקים: VERB,qal,ptc,masc,pl
- והרמחים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- המגנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והקשתות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
- והשרינים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- והשרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- אחרי: PREP
- כל: DET
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:16 (verbal): Direct repetition within the same chapter: again describes half doing the work while the rest were armed with spears, shields, bows and coats of mail.
- Nehemiah 4:18 (verbal): Closely related verbal parallel: depicts workers with one hand working and the other holding a weapon—same combined labor/guard duty motif.
- Nehemiah 4:21–23 (structural): Continuation of the narrative: organizes builders, burden-bearers and captains on the walls and emphasizes vigilance and armed readiness during the work.
- 2 Chronicles 32:5–8 (thematic): Hezekiah’s preparations for defense—appointing officers, arming the people and strengthening the city—parallels the coupling of construction and military readiness.
- Isaiah 62:6 (thematic): The image of appointed watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls who keep constant guard echoes Nehemiah’s placement of armed men to protect those rebuilding the wall.
Alternative generated candidates
- From that day on half of my servants did the work, and the other half were armed with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
- From that day on half of my servants labored at the work, while half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
Neh.4.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הבונים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בחומה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והנשאים: CONJ+ADJ,m,pl,def
- בסבל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- באחת: PREP
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- במלאכה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואחת: CONJ+NUM,card,sg,f
- מחזקת: VERB,piel,ptc,f,sg
- השלח: NOUN,prop,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:10 (verbal): Same immediate context describing the people’s exhaustion and the failing strength of the workers while the wall must be built.
- Nehemiah 4:17-18 (verbal): Closely related scene: builders standing guard so that ‘with one hand they worked on the building, and with the other held a weapon’—same mixed labor/defense imagery.
- Nehemiah 4:6 (structural): Contrasts the weariness of verse 11 by emphasizing communal resolve and joined effort to complete the wall—structural foil within the chapter.
- Exodus 17:12 (thematic): Moses’ hands grow heavy from sustained effort and require support—parallel motif of fatigue during a critical communal task.
- Psalm 127:1-2 (thematic): Speaks of the futility and weariness of labor apart from the Lord’s blessing—echoes the theme of burdened, struggling builders.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the builders, every one of them, carried his tool in one hand and held a weapon in the other.
- Those who carried burdens bore them on one shoulder and held a weapon in the other hand.
Neh.4.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- והבונים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חרבו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m
- אסורים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- מתניו: NOUN,f,pl,suff3,m
- ובונים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והתוקע: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- בשופר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אצלי: PREP+1
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:18 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language: workers doing the building with one hand and holding a weapon with the other—same image of armed builders.
- Nehemiah 4:13 (structural): Immediate context: arrangements for guards and armed men stationed at vulnerable places on the wall—same defensive deployment as v.12.
- Ezekiel 33:6 (thematic): Concept of a watchman set over the city who must sound alarm and warn of danger—parallels the role of sentinels and trumpet signals in Neh 4:12.
- Isaiah 62:6 (allusion): Watchmen on Jerusalem's walls called to keep vigilant, not to be silent—similar motif of sentries guarding the city and calling alarm.
- Joshua 6:4-5 (verbal): Trumpeters and trumpet signals are used to coordinate action against a city wall—parallels the presence and function of the trumpeter mentioned in Neh 4:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the one who blew the trumpet was beside me.
- As for the builders, each had his sword girded at his side while he worked; and the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.
Neh.4.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- החרים: NOUN,prop,m,pl,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- הסגנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- יתר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- המלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הרבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ורחבה: CONJ+ADJ,f,sg
- ואנחנו: CONJ+PRON,1,pl
- נפרדים: VERB,qal,ptcp,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- החומה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- רחוקים: ADJ,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאחיו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:9 (structural): Same episode — community response to threat: they pray to God and set a guard day and night, showing the practical measures that accompany the observation that the work is large and people are scattered.
- Nehemiah 4:14 (verbal): Immediate continuation in context—Nehemiah rallies the people, contrasting fear with trust in God and exhorting vigilance despite being separated on the wall.
- Nehemiah 4:16-18 (structural): Describes the actual arrangement and rotation of labor and guards (some working, others holding spears), directly parallel to the concern in v.13 about the wide expanse and separation of workers on the wall.
- Isaiah 62:6 (thematic): ‘I have set watchmen upon thy walls’ — shared imagery of watchers/guards on Jerusalem’s walls, emphasizing vigilance and assigned stations around the city.
- Ezekiel 33:2-6 (thematic): The watchman motif: responsibility to watch and warn of danger. Parallels the concern in Neh.4:13 about spacing and the need for organized vigilance when threats surround the wall.
Alternative generated candidates
- I said to the nobles and to the governors and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.
- Then I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and wide, and we are separated upon the wall, far from one another."
Neh.4.14 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- במקום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תשמעו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השופר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שמה: ADV
- תקבצו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- ילחם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 14:14 (verbal): Direct verbal parallel — 'The LORD shall fight for you' echoes Nehemiah's assurance 'our God shall fight for us.'
- Deuteronomy 20:4 (verbal): Military-theological formula: God accompanies Israel 'to fight for you'—same promise of divine warfare on behalf of the people.
- Joshua 6:5 (verbal): Similar use of trumpet/signal language — 'when ye hear the sound of the trumpet' functions as the summons to action, as in Nehemiah's call to assemble where the trumpet is heard.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15 (thematic): Explicit reassurance in a crisis: 'Do not be afraid... for the battle is not yours but God's,' paralleling Nehemiah's call to gather because God will fight for them.
- 1 Samuel 17:47 (thematic): Declaration that victory belongs to Yahweh ('the battle is the LORD's') reflects the same theological conviction behind Nehemiah's command to assemble under the trumpet.
Alternative generated candidates
- Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us.”
- Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, there assemble to us there. Our God will fight for us.
Neh.4.15 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואנחנו: CONJ+PRON,1,pl
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- במלאכה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וחצים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מחזיקים: VERB,qal,ptc,pl,m
- ברמחים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מעלות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- השחר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עד: PREP
- צאת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- הכוכבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:17-18 (verbal): Same scene expressed elsewhere in the chapter: builders worked with one hand on the work and one hand holding a weapon—direct verbal and situational parallel.
- Nehemiah 4:21-23 (structural): Immediate chapter parallel describing the organization of the guards and the pattern of work and watch—same strategy of working by day and guarding by night.
- 2 Chronicles 32:5-8 (thematic): Hezekiah fortifies Jerusalem, appoints captains and prepares weapons and defenses—theme of building/repair under military threat and organized vigilance.
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 (thematic): Advises diligence from morning to evening (sowing in the morning and evening) — echoes the motif of sustained labor ‘from dawn until the stars appear.’
- Psalm 127:1 (thematic): Speaks of the need for the Lord’s protection when building (otherwise labor is in vain); parallels Nehemiah’s coupling of work with watchfulness and reliance on God for safety.
Alternative generated candidates
- So we continued the work. Moreover, half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.
- So we labored in the work; and half of them held the spears from dawn until the stars appeared.
Neh.4.16 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- גם: ADV
- בעת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ההיא: DEM,f,sg
- אמרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg
- לעם: PREP
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונערו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ילינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בתוך: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- הלילה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- משמר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיום: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:13-15 (structural): Immediate context: leaders organize men with weapons and stations; these verses describe the same measures—armed guards and readiness day and night leading up to v.16.
- Nehemiah 4:21-23 (verbal): Continues the prescription for keeping watch and working: people posted with weapons day and night and instructed to be ready—reiterates the night-guard/day-labor arrangement.
- Isaiah 62:6 (verbal): "I have set watchmen upon thy walls" — similar language and function: appointed watchmen on the walls to guard the city, echoing the idea of residents serving as nightly sentinels.
- Psalm 127:1-2 (thematic): Contrast/parallel about human vigilance: the watchman rising early and staying awake vs. dependence on God for the city's safety; both passages focus on night-watch and waking/labor rhythms.
- 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 (thematic): Hezekiah organizes city defenses, appointing captains and watchmen and encouraging courage—parallels Nehemiah's practical measures to secure Jerusalem by staffing guards and assigning duties.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time I kept the rest of the people at Jerusalem, every one with his servant, that they might be guards by night and laborers by day.
- At that time I also said to the people, "Let every man and his servant dwell within Jerusalem, that they may be guards by night and laborers by day."
Neh.4.17 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- ואחי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,1s
- ונערי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,poss1s
- ואנשי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- המשמר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אחרי: PREP
- אין: PART,neg
- אנחנו: PRON,1,pl
- פשטים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- בגדינו: NOUN,m,pl,poss1pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלחו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- המים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Nehemiah 4:16 (structural): Same chapter—describes organization of the workforce so that some labored on the wall while others stood guard, matching the verse’s concern with guards protecting workers.
- Nehemiah 4:21-23 (structural): Continuation of the passage—explicitly records that half the men worked while the other half kept watch from morning until night, and details armed vigilance against attack.
- Isaiah 62:6-7 (verbal): Uses the language of watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls who must keep vigil 'day and night,' echoing Nehemiah’s arrangement of guards protecting the city and builders.
- Isaiah 52:8 (thematic): Speaks of watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls lifting up their voice and seeing restoration—parallel theme of watchmen on the walls guarding and announcing events concerning the city.
- 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 (thematic): Hezekiah organizes the people, sets captains, and arms them to defend Jerusalem against enemies—parallels Nehemiah’s mobilization of guards and defensive preparations while rebuilding the walls.
Alternative generated candidates
- Neither I, my brothers, nor my servants, nor the sentries who followed me, took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.
- Neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his waist.
And it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the wall of Jerusalem was being raised and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance.
Then we prayed to our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them. And Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing; the rubble is plentiful, and we are not able to build the wall." And our enemies said, "They do not know, and they will not see, until we come among them and kill them and stop the work." And the Jews who lived near them kept warning us—ten times over—about every place from which they might come against us.
Therefore I stationed people behind the lowest parts of the wall and at the openings, and I set the people according to their families, with swords, spears, and bows. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses." And when our enemies heard that it had been made known to us, God frustrated their counsel; so all of us returned to the wall, each to his work.
From that day on half of the men worked on the construction, and half were equipped with spears, shields, and bows; the officers were behind all the house of Judah. And the builders who worked on the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that with one hand they performed the work and with the other they held a weapon. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.
Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there to us; our God will fight for us." So we labored on the work; and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars appeared.
At that time I also commanded that the people should dwell in Jerusalem, each man and his household, that they might be a guard by night and work by day.
Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards who followed me put off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.