Nehemiah 4:7
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Hebrew word translated here as "made up" or "repairing" carries a vivid metaphor: it literally speaks of the wall "healing" as if it were a wound. This imagery highlights that the wall's brokenness wasn't just structural damage, but a deep injury that threatened Jerusalem's very well-being. The enemies' anger flares not just because the wall is rising, but because the city is being restored to wholeness.
Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem have started rebuilding the city walls, making significant progress in closing the breaches. This success infuriates their enemies – Sanballat, Tobiah, and various groups like the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites – who are now plotting to attack and halt the construction. Their anger stems from seeing the very thing they opposed not only continue but actually advance.
The enemies of God's people weren't a single entity, but a diverse group united by one thing: jealousy. What does this tell us about opposition to God's work?
Verse 7 lists several distinct groups opposing Nehemiah's work: Sanballat and Tobiah (likely leaders in Samaria), the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites (Philistines). Though from different regions and potentially with their own rivalries, they all coalesce against Jerusalem.
This coalition wasn't motivated by any real harm done by the Jews. Instead, their anger stemmed from seeing Jerusalem's progress. This reminds us that opposition to God's kingdom often comes from a place of envy and a desire to maintain the status quo, even if that status quo is broken and dysfunctional.
The Hebrew behind 'repairing' and 'stopped' paints a vivid picture. What was truly happening to Jerusalem's walls, and what does this mean for us?
The verse uses powerful imagery. The walls weren't just being rebuilt; the Hebrew word used for 'repairing' carries a sense of 'healing.' The breaches weren't just being filled; they were 'being stopped' or 'closed.'
This suggests that Jerusalem's walls were like a wounded body, and Nehemiah and his team were like healers applying remedies. This wasn't merely a construction project; it was a restoration, a bringing back to health and wholeness. This spiritual metaphor speaks to us today: when we engage in God's work, we are participating in His restorative power, bringing healing and wholeness to broken situations.
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It's counterintuitive, isn't it? You'd think seeing progress would be good news. But for these enemies, it meant pure rage. Why does success threaten some people?
The core of the enemies' reaction was not just anger, but "very wroth" – an intense, burning fury. This wasn't a mild annoyance; it was a deep, visceral rage. Why? Because the progress of God's people threatened their own power, their own sense of control, and their own worldview.
When the walls were down, Jerusalem was vulnerable, a symbol of brokenness and defeat. As the walls went up and the breaches were closed, it signified renewed strength, hope, and security for the Jews, and by extension, a challenge to the dominance of their enemies. This is a timeless principle: the advancement of God's kingdom and the flourishing of His people will inevitably provoke intense opposition from those who stand against Him.
Understand the original words
‘aloth · Hebrew Noun/Verb
The act of restoring or mending that which was broken or dilapidated; in Scripture, it often points to the restoration of God's covenant, temple, or people.
perets · Hebrew Noun
Gaps or openings in a wall or defense; symbolically, these represent areas of weakness, vulnerability, or failure in personal or national righteousness.
charah aph · Hebrew Adjective/Verb phrase
A strong, intense emotional response often associated with opposition to God's work; it frequently highlights the antagonism of the world toward those fulfilling God's purposes.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls was seen by surrounding peoples not just as a construction project, but as a political statement of restored autonomy and defiance, threatening their own influence and stability within the Persian Empire.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of its people and the resettlement of foreigners in the region. This event creates a mixed population and a distinct identity in Samaria, often at odds with the returning Judeans.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, beginning a period of exile. Key figures, including Daniel, are taken to Babylon, marking the end of an independent Judean kingdom and the destruction of Jerusalem's defenses.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, completing the exile of the Judean people. This catastrophic event leaves Jerusalem in ruins, with its protective walls broken down, a deep wound in the national and religious life of the Jews.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
King Cyrus of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the post-exilic period, a time of restoration and rebuilding under Persian rule, though with significant challenges.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah Appointed Governor
King Artaxerxes I of Persia appoints Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer, as governor of Judah. Nehemiah receives permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, facing immediate opposition from neighboring peoples.
c. 445 BC
Wall Repair Begins
Nehemiah, despite fierce opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and other regional leaders, rallies the Jewish people to repair the walls of Jerusalem. The work progresses, with breaches being closed and defenses strengthened, provoking increased anger and conspiracy from their enemies.
pulpitNehemiah 4:7: "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,"
Verse 7. - It came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, at Samaria, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, in their respective residences, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, or "that the (entire) wall of Jerusalem was…
clarkeNehemiah 4:7: "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 walls of Jerusalem were made up - That is, they were made up to the half height of the wall; for the preceding verse seems to intimate that the whole wall was thus far built; not half of the wall completed, but the whole wall built to half its height…
The Hebrew word translated here as "made up" or "repairing" carries a vivid metaphor: it literally speaks of the wall "healing" as if it were a wound. This imagery highlights that the wall's brokenness wasn't just structural damage, but a deep injury that threatened Jerusalem's very well-being. The enemies' anger flares not just because the wall is rising, but because the city is being restored to wholeness.
Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem have started rebuilding the city walls, making significant progress in closing the breaches. This success infuriates their enemies – Sanballat, Tobiah, and various groups like the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites – who are now plotting to attack and halt the construction. Their anger stems from seeing the very thing they opposed not only continue but actually advance.
Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem have started rebuilding the city walls, making significant progress in closing the breaches. This success infuriates their enemies – Sanballat, Tobiah, and various groups like the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites – who are now plotting to attack and halt the construction. Their anger stems from seeing the very thing they opposed not only continue but actually advance.
"But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry." — The Hebrew word translated here as "made up" or "repairing" carries a vivid metaphor: it literally speaks of the wall "healing" as if it were a wound. This imagery highlights that the wall's brokenne…
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