Nehemiah 4:11
And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The enemies' strategy wasn't just to attack, but to do so with absolute surprise, aiming for a moment when the builders would be completely unaware and unprepared. Their goal was to strike when the people of God "shall not know, neither see," highlighting their desire for total shock and incapacitation.
The enemies of Jerusalem, seeing Nehemiah's people making progress on rebuilding the walls, plotted a surprise attack. Their plan was to march secretly, catch the unsuspecting builders in their midst, slaughter them, and halt the construction entirely. This verse reveals their malicious intent and their strategy to achieve it through a sudden, deadly ambush.
The enemies of God's work often don't announce their intentions. They prefer to strike from the shadows, hoping to catch us off guard.
In Nehemiah 4:11, we hear the chilling words of the adversaries. Their plan wasn't a straightforward assault, but a covert operation.
A Plan of Deception
They said, 'They will not know or see until we come among them.' This reveals a strategy of stealth and surprise. Their goal was to avoid detection until the last possible moment, ensuring the Jews were unprepared and vulnerable.
The Shock of the Unexpected
The enemy's intent was to burst in 'among them,' not just at the city gates, but in their midst. This implies an invasion designed to cause maximum panic and destruction, aiming to 'kill them and stop the work.' It's a stark reminder that opposition to God's purposes often relies on shock and awe.
When faced with threats that aim to destroy our efforts, how do we move from paralyzing fear to courageous action?
Nehemiah's reaction to the enemies' plot, as detailed in the surrounding verses, offers a powerful model for how we should respond to opposition.
Prayer as the First Defense
Before implementing any physical defenses, Nehemiah turned to God. He presented the enemies' threats and plans directly to the Lord (Nehemiah 4:9). This wasn't a passive act of resignation, but an active reliance on divine strength and wisdom. He understood that ultimate protection comes from above.
Vigilance with Action
Prayer was immediately followed by action. Nehemiah organized a vigilant watch. He put men with swords, spears, and bows in the exposed places, and stationed guards 'behind the walls at the lowest and most open places' (Nehemiah 4:13). The builders worked with tools in one hand and weapons in the other.
Trusting God's Power
Understand the original words
tsarar · Hebrew Noun
Opponents or adversaries who oppose God's people or His purposes. In Scripture, this often represents those who stand against the divine will, requiring vigilance and trust in the Lord for deliverance.
melakah · Hebrew Noun
The general labor, service, or business commanded by God or undertaken in His name. It signifies both human effort and divine mandate, emphasizing stewardship and obedience in fulfilling one's calling.
This verse reveals the chilling, murderous intent of those who opposed God's work, highlighting Nehemiah's courageous response to protect his people and their mission.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes I, receives news of Jerusalem's broken walls and journeys to the city with royal permission and resources to rebuild.
c. 445 BC
Rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls begins
Despite opposition from surrounding peoples, Nehemiah rallies the Jews and begins the ambitious project of repairing and fortifying Jerusalem's walls.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Opposition intensifies
Sanballat, Tobiah, and their allies hear of the progress and become enraged, plotting to disrupt and halt the construction through intimidation and deceit.
c. 445 BC
Enemies plot surprise attack
The adversaries secretly plan to launch a sudden, devastating assault on Jerusalem, aiming to catch the builders off guard, kill them, and destroy their work.
This passage describes the kings of the earth plotting against the Lord and his Anointed, much like the adversaries in Nehemiah who secretly plotted to destroy the work of God.
Psalm 55:12-14David expresses deep distress over the betrayal and secret plots of a close companion, mirroring the insidious nature of the enemies' surprise attack plan against Nehemiah and the builders.
Matthew 27:1The chief priests and elders of the people similarly 'took counsel against Jesus to put him to death,' revealing a consistent pattern of enemies plotting in secret against God's purposes.
Acts 23:12-15This passage details a conspiracy where over forty Jews vowed not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul, directly paralleling the violent intent and secretive planning of Nehemiah's enemies.
ellicottNehemiah 4:11: "And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease."
(11) They shall not know. —As to the adversaries, their plan was evidently to watch and surprise, instead of making the threatened attack.
cambridgeNehemiah 4:11: "And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease."
11 . our adversaries said ] ‘adversaries,’ cf. Ezra 4:1 . After mentioning the source of weakness within the walls, Nehemiah describes the danger from without. ‘Said.’ He gives, as if in their own words, their secret project of a surprise attack upon Jerusalem, either reporting the information brought by spies or describing by imagination…
The enemies' strategy wasn't just to attack, but to do so with absolute surprise, aiming for a moment when the builders would be completely unaware and unprepared. Their goal was to strike when the people of God "shall not know, neither see," highlighting their desire for total shock and incapacitation.
The enemies of Jerusalem, seeing Nehemiah's people making progress on rebuilding the walls, plotted a surprise attack. Their plan was to march secretly, catch the unsuspecting builders in their midst, slaughter them, and halt the construction entirely. This verse reveals their malicious intent and their strategy to achieve it through a sudden, deadly ambush.
The enemies of Jerusalem, seeing Nehemiah's people making progress on rebuilding the walls, plotted a surprise attack. Their plan was to march secretly, catch the unsuspecting builders in their midst, slaughter them, and halt the construction entirely. This verse reveals their malicious intent and their strategy to achieve it through a sudden, deadly ambush.
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Crucially, Nehemiah didn't just rely on his own preparations. He encouraged the people, saying, 'Do not fear them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, and your wives, and your homes' (Nehemiah 4:14). The work continued, fueled by faith and courage, under God's watchful eye.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah organizes defense
Nehemiah responds by arming the workers, dividing them into work and defense groups, and setting guards, while also leading the people in prayer.
c. 445 BC
Walls are completed
Through vigilance, courage, and divine help, the people finish rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in a remarkably short time, securing the city.
"And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”" — The enemies' strategy wasn't just to attack, but to do so with absolute surprise, aiming for a moment when the builders would be completely unaware and unprepared. Their goal was to strike when the p…
