When the Breaches Began to be Stopped - Nehemiah 4:7

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work”, and in chapter four and verse seven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared what happened, “when the breaches began to be stopped”, where we read,

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,

The verse reads, “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “but it came to pass” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the following occurred and happened”, “that when Sanballat” which means “that at the time and moment Sanballat whose name means strength and was a Moabite of Horonaim and the opponent of Nehemiah and the returned exiles in their goal of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem”, “and Tobiah” whose name means “Jehovah is good who was the Ammonite who with Sanballat opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem”, “and the Arabians” which means “and the people who were from Arabiah which means steppe-dweller”, “and the Ammonites” or “and the descendants and inhabitants of Ammon”, “and the Ashdodites” which means “and the inhabitants who were from Ashdod whose name means I will spoil” did the following. Nehemiah shared how, “Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites”did the following. 

The verse continues, “... heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth ...” Nehemiah added the words, “heard that the walls of Jerusalem” or “perceived, listened to and gave attention with interest that the barrier walls belonging to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split” “were made up” which means “ascended, shot forth, were rebuilt and established”, “and that the breaches” or “and that broken and burst pieces of the wall” “began to be stopped” which means “started to exist as shut up and closed”, “then they were very wroth” or “at that time they, Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites, were furious and extremely angry, and they took action which is shared in our next verse. Nehemiah shared how “Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites” perceived and discerned that the holes or broken places in the barrier wall to Jerusalem was being closed, they became furious and did what follows in our next verse. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how “Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites” all discovered that the holes or broken pieces of the barrier wall surrounding Jerusalem were being shut up and closed and became angry because of it. We can imagine their anger. God knows the hearts and minds of every person, and when we see these revelations of what was in the foes of Israel's hearts, we should relate this to our current day. God loves everybody, and He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of every person, so “whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but will have everlasting life”. (See John 3:16) When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to work in His Kingdom regardless of who knows or rises up in opposition against us. 

Next time Nehemiah shares how the opposition, “conspired all of them together”, 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".