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they are gone, and how employed, and what becomes of their bodies, and how quickly we shall go to them. The grave is the inheritance of all their children. We should not be ashamed of such pious and generous sentiments in the presence of the greatest men or princes; they are highly becoming and useful.

4. Let us hence learn the benefit of ejaculatory prayer, that is, the sudden darting of the soul or wishes toward God, as the word signifies. It is an excellent way to keep up communion with him, it hinders no business, it interrupts no innocent pleasures; it keeps a sense of religion uppermost, fits us for more solemn exercises of devotion, and secures the divine assistance, presence, and help, in every difficult and perplexing case. Thus saith the Lord, acknowledge me in all thy ways, and I will direct thy paths. Prov. iii. 6.

5. We should acknowledge the good hand of God in the favourable turn he gives to the hearts of those we depend on, or expect benefits by. We should acknowledge also that it is he who puts good purposes into our own hearts, and enables us to behave so as to gain favour. This is a lesson which often arises from this book, and is most important and worthy our regard.

6. When we are undertaking any business of consequence, wisdom and prudence are necessary to direct. Nehemiah considered first, the state of things, and afterward privately consulted some before he opened the scheme to others. We should take time to think of, weigh and digest, any plan for the public good, or our own interest. It is prudent to conceal our schemes till they are formed to some degree of maturity; and should guard against pursuing rash and hasty measures, which may disappoint our schemes, and expose the authors of them to neglect and contempt.

7. See how much one active man may do to promote reformation. The Jews neglected the wall; but as soon as Nehemiah came and quickened them, they were all ready and vigorous; they only wanted one to set them on. This answers the common objection which is made for beginning a good work, I am but one, what can I do? More than you think of; at least try what you can, and strengthen one another's hands in the work of God, for v. 18. it is a good work; and God will prosper the work, and reward the labourers.

8. Let us cheerfully depend on God, and not be discouraged from prosecuting good undertakings by the scorns and insults of bad men. No good work will go on without enemies. They will laugh us to scorn; but let not this move us, Remember that we are God's servants, engaged in his cause; that he will prosper us; and we shall have a portion and memorial in the new Jerusalem, the city of the liv ing God, which abideth for ever.

CHAP. III. and CHAP. IV.

The third chapter is wholly taken up with an account of the building the wall. In the fourth we have an account of the opposition they met with, and the methods which were taken to prevent its success.

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HEN Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren ed it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel; dedicated it to God's service by prayer, and such other rites as were appointed, as the first 2 fruits of all the rest of the building. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. The names in this and the following verses are so particularly set down, because it was a work of great virtue, as it was an honour and security to the country; and also of great piety, as it was an holy city, and a defence to the worshippers of Jehovah : it was an honour to be employed in it, and a noble example to their pos3 terity. But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who [also] laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the 4 locks thereof, and the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baa5 na. And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their no6 bles put not their necks to the work of their LORD. Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the 7 doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne 8 of the governor on this side the river. Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of [one of] the apothecaries, and 9 they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall. And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part 10 of Jerusalem. And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him 11 repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah. Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other 12 piece, and the tower of the furnaces. And next unto him repair

ed Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Je13 rusalem, he and his daughters. The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand 14 cubits on the wall unto the dung gate. But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, 15 and the bars thereof. But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallum the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it,

and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto [the place] over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of 17 the mighty. After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half 18 part of Keilah, in his part. After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah. 19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armory 20 at the turning [of the wall.] After him Baruch the son of Zab

bai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning [of the 21 wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. Af ter him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the 22 end of the house of Eliashib. And after him repaired the priests, 23 the men of the plain. After him repaired Benjamin and Hash,

ub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the 24 son of Maaseiah the son of Hananiah by his house. After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning [of the wall,] even unto the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning [of the wall,] and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that [was] by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh. 26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto [the place] over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth 27 out. After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over

against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. 28 From above the horse gate, repaired the priests, every one over 29 against his house. After them repaired Zadok the son of Im

mer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah 30 the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate. After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam 31 the son of Berechiah over against his chamber. After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son, unto the place of the Nethinims and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, 32 and to the going up of the corner. And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

CHAP. IV. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indigna2 tion, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, to the chief men, and especially the commanders and governors in that part of the country, who had mustered all their forces to invade the Jews and hinder their work, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? He made a

jest of their dispatch, as if they intended to finish, and keep a feast of dedication, in one day: will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? as if he had said, They must give the stones life and reason to join themselves, if they would make any 3 thing out of this rubbish. Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build is so feeble, that if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. But Nehemiah, instead of answering these fools according to their folly, directs his prayer to God, that he would hear and return their 4 scoffs on their own heads. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them 5 for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for 6 they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders.* built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof for the people had a mind to work; they went on cheerfully notwithstanding their jeers.

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So

But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth; when 8 they found that bantering would not do, they took up arms; And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against 9 Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them, that they might not surprise us. But now irvo dif10 ficulties arose, one from their friends: And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and, [there is] much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall: they began to murmur, and complained that there was so much rubbish they could never be able to clear it, which was enough to discourage them all. Another difficulty arose from their enemies, who had formed a secret design to surprise the city and murder the inhabitants, of which they had notice from the Jews who dwelt among 11 these people or on the frontiers. And our adversaries said, they shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among 12 them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

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And it

came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, that is, they said so often and assuredly; an abrupt form of speech, intimating their great danger; From all places whence ye shall return unto us [they will be upon you]

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, [and] on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with 14 their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD

Nehemiah urges this argument, to show that he did not pray against them out of a principle of private revenge, but because they had provoked God, by ridiculing and discouraglag this work, which was designed for his honour, and the safety of his people.

[which is] great and terrible, whose assistance you may depend upon; and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daugh15 ters, your wives, and your houses. And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, that we had got intelligence of their design, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his 16 work. And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers [were] behind all the house of Ju17 dah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon.' 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and [so] builded. And he that sounded the trumpet [was] by 19 me, to give the alarm if needful. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from 20 another. In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us, that by being united, we may make a better stand against our enemies and our God shall fight 21 for us. So we laboured in the work and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one

with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, not in the suburbs and villages where they used to lodge, but in the city, that in the night 23 they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, [saving that] every one put them off for washing; either to make them clean, or on occasion of some ceremonial pollution.

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REFLECTIONS.

WE from

E are taught from both these chapters, that where the service of God or our country require it, we should all join hearts and hands in so good a work, as these people did. The priests began and set a good example; the tradesmen, goldsmiths, merchants, and apothecaries, all joined, and some ladies contributed to this good work, v. 12. This is a good example of zeal, generosity, and public spirit, which it will be our honour as christians to imitate; and we should go on cheerfully in it, notwithstanding all discouragements, v. 6.

2. Let us not wonder if we meet with indignation and contempt in our endeavours to serve the interests of religion. Nehemiah experienced much of this; and such is the wickedness of the world, it will always follow resolution and zeal; but let none of these things move us. He that scorneth the scorner, will approve our faithful

*This was not literally the case, or they could not have worked; but they relieved one another, and their arms lay ready before them, to seize at a homent's alarm.

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