The
Word On Leadership: Half Full or Half Empty?
"Plan
On Criticism"
Nehemiah
4:1-20
Nehemiah
3 (for background reference)
NIV
Translation |
Nehemiah
4:1-20
Nehemiah
3 (for background reference)
New
Living Translation |
Nehemiah
4:1-20
Opposition
to the Rebuilding
1
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry
and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,
2
and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said,
"What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they
offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones
back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?"
3
Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—if
even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"
4
Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their
own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
5
Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for
they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
6
So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the
people worked with all their heart.
7
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod
heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the
gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
8
They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir
up trouble against it.
9
But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this
threat.
10
Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving
out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
11
Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right
there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."
12
Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever
you turn, they will attack us."
13
Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the
wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords,
spears and bows.
14
After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials
and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord,
who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your
daughters, your wives and your homes."
15
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had
frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
16
From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were
equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves
behind all the people of Judah
17
who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work
with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18
and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the
man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
19
Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The
work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each
other along the wall.
20
Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will
fight for us!" |
Nehemiah
4:1-20
Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding
1 Sanballat was very
angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a
rage and mocked the Jews,
2 saying in front
of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of
poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the
wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually
think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred
ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite,
who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse
if even a fox walked along the top of it!”
4 Then I prayed,
“Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back
on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign
land!
5 Do not ignore their
guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger
here in front of the builders.”
6 At last the wall
was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people
had worked with enthusiasm.
7 But when Sanballat
and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work
was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired,
they were furious.
8 They all made plans
to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.
9 But we prayed to
our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.
10 Then the people
of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is
so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by
ourselves.”
11 Meanwhile, our
enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop
down on them and kill them and end their work.”
12 The Jews who lived
near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all
directions and attack us!”
13 So I placed armed
guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed
the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
14 Then as I looked
over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people
and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who
is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters,
your wives, and your homes!”
15 When our enemies
heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we
all returned to our work on the wall.
16 But from then
on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears,
shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind
the people of Judah
17 who were building
the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their
load and one hand holding a weapon.
18 All the builders
had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound
the alarm.
19 Then I explained
to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread
out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20 When you hear
the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God
will fight for us!” |
Nehemiah
3
Builders
of the Wall
1
Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt
the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building
as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as
the Tower of Hananel.
2
The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri
built next to them.
3
The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams
and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
4
Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next
to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs,
and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs.
5
The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would
not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
6
The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son
of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars
in place.
7
Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah
of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor
of Trans-Euphrates.
8
Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section;
and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They
restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
9
Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired
the next section.
10
Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house,
and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him.
11
Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section
and the Tower of the Ovens.
12
Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired
the next section with the help of his daughters.
13
The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They
rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. They also repaired
five hundred yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
14
The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, ruler of the district
of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in
place.
15
The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the
district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors
and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam,
by the King's Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David.
16
Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur,
made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial
pool and the House of the Heroes.
17
Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani.
Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out
repairs for his district.
18
Next to him, the repairs were made by their countrymen under Binnui son
of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah.
19
Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section,
from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle.
20
Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from
the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21
Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another
section, from the entrance of Eliashib's house to the end of it.
22
The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region.
23
Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house;
and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs
beside his house.
24
Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah's
house to the angle and the corner,
25
and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting
from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah
son of Parosh
26
and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to
a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.
27
Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great
projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.
28
Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own
house.
29
Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next
to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs.
30
Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph,
repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made
repairs opposite his living quarters.
31
Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the
house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection
Gate, and as far as the room above the corner;
32
and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths
and merchants made repairs. |
Nehemiah
3
Rebuilding the Wall of
Jerusalem
1 Then Eliashib the
high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate.
They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the
Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel.
2 People from the
town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of
Imri.
3 The Fish Gate was
built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors,
and installed its bolts and bars.
4 Meremoth son of
Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside
him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then
Zadok son of Baana.
5 Next were the people
from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction
supervisors.
6 The Old City Gate
was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They
laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.
7 Next to them were
Melatiah from Gibeon, Jadon from Meronoth, people from Gibeon, and people
from Mizpah, the headquarters of the governor of the province west of the
Euphrates River.
8 Next was Uzziel
son of Harhaiah, a goldsmith by trade, who also worked on the wall. Beyond
him was Hananiah, a manufacturer of perfumes. They left out a section of
Jerusalem as they built the Broad Wall.
9 Rephaiah son of
Hur, the leader of half the district of Jerusalem, was next to them on
the wall.
10 Next Jedaiah son
of Harumaph repaired the wall across from his own house, and next to him
was Hattush son of Hashabneiah.
11 Then came Malkijah
son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab, who repaired another section
of the wall and the Tower of the Ovens.
12 Shallum son of
Hallohesh and his daughters repaired the next section. He was the leader
of the other half of the district of Jerusalem.
13 The Valley Gate
was repaired by the people from Zanoah, led by Hanun. They set up its doors
and installed its bolts and bars. They also repaired the 1,500 feet of
wall to the Dung Gate.
14 The Dung Gate
was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, the leader of the Beth-hakkerem
district. He rebuilt it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and
bars.
15 The Fountain Gate
was repaired by Shallum[e] son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district.
He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and
bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden,
and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City
of David.
16 Next to him was
Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the leader of half the district of Beth-zur. He
rebuilt the wall from a place across from the tombs of David’s family as
far as the water reservoir and the House of the Warriors.
17 Next to him, repairs
were made by a group of Levites working under the supervision of Rehum
son of Bani. Then came Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah,
who supervised the building of the wall on behalf of his own district.
18 Next down the
line were his countrymen led by Binnui son of Henadad, the leader of the
other half of the district of Keilah.
19 Next to them,
Ezer son of Jeshua, the leader of Mizpah, repaired another section of wall
across from the ascent to the armory near the angle in the wall.
20 Next to him was
Baruch son of Zabbai, who zealously repaired an additional section from
the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 Meremoth son of
Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz rebuilt another section of the wall extending
from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of the house.
22 The next repairs
were made by the priests from the surrounding region.
23 After them, Benjamin
and Hasshub repaired the section across from their house, and Azariah son
of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah repaired the section across from his
house.
24 Next was Binnui
son of Henadad, who rebuilt another section of the wall from Azariah’s
house to the angle and the corner.
25 Palal son of Uzai
carried on the work from a point opposite the angle and the tower that
projects up from the king’s upper house beside the court of the guard.
Next to him were Pedaiah son of Parosh,
26 with the Temple
servants living on the hill of Ophel, who repaired the wall as far as a
point across from the Water Gate to the east and the projecting tower.
27 Then came the
people of Tekoa, who repaired another section across from the great projecting
tower and over to the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse
Gate, the priests repaired the wall. Each one repaired the section immediately
across from his own house.
29 Next Zadok son
of Immer also rebuilt the wall across from his own house, and beyond him
was Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the gatekeeper of the East Gate.
30 Next Hananiah
son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section,
while Meshullam son of Berekiah rebuilt the wall across from where he lived.
31 Malkijah, one
of the goldsmiths, repaired the wall as far as the housing for the Temple
servants and merchants, across from the Inspection Gate. Then he continued
as far as the upper room at the corner.
32 The other goldsmiths
and merchants repaired the wall from that corner to the Sheep Gate. |
Scripture taken from the
HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan.
Scripture quotations marked
NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996,
2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189.
Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189.
Unless otherwise indicated,
all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright 1996, 2004.
Used by permission of Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
|
