What Do These Feeble Jews? - Nehemiah 4:2

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah went back to the city of Jerusalem and began to rebuild the wall, and after beginning the work, “it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews”, and in chapter four and verse two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how “Sanballat”, “spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews?”, where we read,

And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

The verse reads, “And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews?”Nehemiah began with the words, “and he spoke before his brethren” or “and he, Sanballat, uttered, declared and proclaimed in front and in the presence of his, Sanballat's, kindred, kinship and relatives” “and the army” which means “and the rampart, fortress and bulwark” “of Samaria” or “belonging to Samaria whose name means watch mountain and was the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the 10 tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam”, “and said”which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “What do these feeble Jews” or “whatsoever fashion or production perform these weak, languid and lame Jehudates or Judaites who were descendants of Judah”? Nehemiah shared how “Sanballat” began to talk to his relatives and the fortress belonging to “Samaria” and asked whatsoever these infirm “Jewish” people thought they were doing. 

The verse continues, “will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day?” Nehemiah added the words, “Will they fortify themselves” or “shall they, the Jewish people, restore, repair and relinquish their own selves”? “will they sacrifice” which means “shall they, the Jewish people, slaughter, kill and make offerings”? “Will they make an end” or “shall they, the Jewish people, accomplish, complete and finish their work” “in a day” which means “within a sunrise to sunset”? Nehemiah shared how “Sanballat” questioned whether the “Jewish people” could restore themselves, make offerings and complete their work within a “day's” time.

Finally the verse says, “will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?” Nehemiah concluded this verse with the words, “will they revive the stones” or “shall they, the Jewish people, make alive, prosperous and sustained the common building rock materials” “out of the heaps of the rubbish” which means “from the piles pertaining to the earth, powder, ashes, mortar and debris” “which are burned” or “that exist as burned up, kindled and on fire”? Nehemiah ended this verse by sharing how “Sanballat” questioned whether the Jewish people would make prosperous the building “stones” from piles of debris that were burned with fire. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn more from Nehemiah about “Sanballat's” questions concerning the Jewish people. Not only did he have the inquiries within himself, but he began to question others concerning whatsoever the weak Jewish people could do. He expounded upon his questions by asking if they could restore their own selves, make offerings, complete their tasks within a day or use the building stones that were like piles of trash that was burnt. Each of these questions were filled with the premise of doubt and unbelief, and just like Satan, he desired to cause the people of Jerusalem to stop their work. Jesus said, “the thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (See John 10:10), and anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus who died on the cross and was raised from the dead three days later will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and given a task and ability that will succeed in the Kingdom of God even when opposing foes and adversaries attempt to cause unbelief. 

Next time Nehemiah shares what, “Tobiah the Ammonite” said, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".