So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
The wall around Jerusalem went up in under two months, while the builders were mocked, threatened and plotted against. Writers ask two questions here: how did the work go so fast, and what did the watching world make of it?
Most of the chapter describes attempts to stop the work. Then comes this sentence, and one commentator weighs the small word that opens it.
Though this chapter is given to exposing the enemy's tricks, the work of building the wall was not hindered at all. Nehemiah's faith and courage never faltered. "So" is a remarkable word here. It might mean "in this manner," or "nevertheless," or "in spite of," depending on whether we take it in its literal or spiritual sense. The speed of the work shows the energy of the workmen under Nehemiah's guidance. "The city was large and great," and to surround it with a wall in fifty-two days was no small achievement. That is easy to understand, though, when we remember that the work was of God, and for God, and that He worked with the builders.
Some have doubted that the job could be done that fast. One writer gives both practical reasons and spiritual ones.
Critics have said fifty-two days is too short a time to do that much work. But a large number of people, along with Nehemiah's servants, worked without stopping. The material was ready too, for they probably had to dig out the old stones and put them back in the right place; no new stones had to be cut and carried. God had worked and given His blessing. Next to God, the success came from persevering prayer, personal and united effort, constant watchfulness and unfailing courage.
The verse fixes the day, and one commentator places that day in the Jewish calendar.
Despite all this opposition, the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. Elul is the sixth month of the Jewish year. The year began with the month of Abib, when the ears of grain ripen — the month of the Passover and the exodus from Egypt.
An appeal to God stood behind this work. And what forced the enemies to admit whose work it was? Not the strength of the builders, but the lack of it.
God honours such an appeal to Him. Despite the enemy's tricks, the work goes on and the wall is finished. A people so weak on the outside did it, in front of enemies who were truly strong. That becomes a witness even to the enemy "that the work was done by our God."
The opponents were not simply disappointed at losing a contest. Their reaction exposed where they really stood.
The enemies' determined opposition failed completely, and they could not help realising that God had done this work. Why were they disheartened then? Because they were enemies of God, though they would not have said they were. If God does a work, every creature of God ought to be thankful for it: if not, they declare themselves as His enemies.
The wall meant more than stone. One writer explains what the broken wall and burned gates had cost the people, and what rebuilding restored.
Thirteen years pass, and this remnant that had escaped from captivity was in great affliction and reproach. The reason: "the wall of Jerusalem," which speaks of separation, was broken down. "The gates," which stand for the place of discipline, were burned with fire. Under Nehemiah's exhortations, the people were led to build the walls and set up the gates. The result was that separation and discipline were maintained once again.
Another writer names what the finished wall secured, and on what condition.
The wall was the safety and security of God's people, as long as they kept it in holiness, and it was an unbeatable barrier to the enemy.
Finishing the wall did not finish the danger. Inside the city, leading men now sought friendship with Tobiah, an enemy outside.
Evil, shut out by the completion of the wall, now springs up within, and seeks to link itself with the evil outside. The nobles of Judah wrote letters back and forth to Tobiah... This has always been the source of weakness and corruption among the people of God. The moment anyone, like these nobles, forms ties with the world, they stand against the ground of separation God has set them on.
- Despite — the word "So" carries the whole chapter of plots behind it. The wall rose while the opposition raged, not after it stopped.
- Means — persevering prayer, united effort, constant watchfulness, unfailing courage. Even the stones were the old ones, lifted back into place.
- Proof — a weak people finished a huge work in front of strong enemies. That became the evidence that God had done it.
- Verdict — the enemies' gloom at a work of God showed them for what they were. Anyone who cannot be glad at what God does shows which side he is on.
- After — the wall speaks of separation, the gates of discipline. Kept in holiness, it barred the enemy; and the moment evil was shut out, it looked for friends inside.
And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard [of it], all the nations that were about us were afraid and were much cast down in their own eyes, and they perceived that this work was wrought by our God.
Jerusalem's wall went up in fifty-two days, and the watching nations drew the only conclusion left: human strength did not build it. The verse records a finished job and a change in the enemy's mood.
Most of chapter 6 lists the tricks aimed at stopping Nehemiah. One writer points to the small word that opens verse 15, and to who was at work on the site.
"So" is a remarkable word here. It might mean "in this way," or "despite this," or "in spite of it all," depending on whether we take it in its literal or spiritual sense. The speed of the work shows the energy of the workmen under Nehemiah's guidance. To surround a large city with a wall in fifty-two days was no small achievement. Yet it is easy to understand when we remember that the work was of God, and for God, and that He worked with the builders.
Their mood changed when they saw the finished wall. One writer explains what that wall meant to them. Older translations read "much cast down in their own eyes" where the ESV says they "fell greatly in their own esteem."
Up to that point they had been completely defeated. Now, as they "heard" and "saw" that the wall was finished, their hopes were dashed to the ground. This wall kept God's people safe and secure as long as they held it in holiness, and the enemy could not break through it. They knew this, and so "they were much cast down in their own eyes."
The enemies did not admit God was at work because Judah looked strong. The opposite was true.
God honours such an appeal to Him. Despite the enemy's schemes, the work goes on and the wall is finished. A people who looked so weak did it, while the enemies facing them really were strong. That becomes a witness even to the enemy that "the work was wrought of our God."
The verse credits God. One writer answers the objection that fifty-two days is too short, then lists the habits God used.
Critics have remarked that fifty-two days is too short a time to finish that much work. But many people worked without stopping, and Nehemiah's own servants worked with them. The material was ready too. They likely dug out the old stones and put them back in the right place. No one had to cut and carry new stones. God had worked and given His blessing. Next to God, the success of it was due to persevering prayer, personal and united effort, constant watchfulness and unfailing courage.
The finished wall brought joy to one side and shame to the other. The same writer names the quality God's work needs.
The finished work made the returned Jews as glad as it made the ill-wishers of God and His people ashamed. "They perceived that this work was wrought of our God." The courage of faith is invaluable personally and in God's work. To our faith we need to add virtue — courage — as well.
The enemies outside lost heart at verse 16. Verses 17-19 raise a different problem, and one writer calls it the more serious of the two.
It seems to me the greatest trial and danger was from false brothers. The enemy knew that the wall was built: "They were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God." But the false brothers, even "nobles of Judah, sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. For there were many in Judah sworn to him." This is a sad thing, and a great trial. Some people outwardly take the place of being gathered to Christ, yet still try to mix the principles of the world with those of God. No doubt these half-and-half brothers are the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of people searching for the truth.
The chapter shows one man under constant pressure. The writer points past Nehemiah to the One who kept him standing.
We see that this devoted man of God had no rest. He had to fight a constant war against enemies inside and enemies outside. Yet, alone as he was, faith in God strengthened him, and he was above all the power of the enemy. It is a wonderful record. It proves in full that God is enough to hold up His servants, whatever their difficulties or dangers in any service He calls them to. To Him alone be all the praise!
- Despite — the wall rose while the plots were still running. The "so" of verse 15 can carry the sense of "in spite of it all," because the work was of God, for God, and He worked alongside the builders.
- Weakness — weak people finished the wall against strong enemies. That is what turned the job into a witness the enemy could not deny.
- Means — God's working did not replace human effort. Persevering prayer, united work, constant watchfulness and unfailing courage were the channels of the blessing.
- Two sides — one finished wall gladdened God's people and shamed their ill-wishers. The same courage of faith is what God's work still asks of us.
- Inside — the enemies outside were cast down, and then the letters between Judah's nobles and Tobiah began. Writers call this compromise from within the greater danger.