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Selected Verse: Nehemiah 6:15 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ne 6:15	Strong Concordance	So the wall [02346] was finished [07999] in the twenty [06242] and fifth [02568] day of the month Elul [0435], in fifty [02572] and two [08147] days [03117].
	King James	So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Elul - The sixth month, corresponding to the latter part of August and the beginning of September. In fifty and two days - Josephus states that the repairs of the wall occupied two years and four months. But Nehemiah's narrative is thoroughly consistent with itself, and contains in it nothing that is improbable. The walls everywhere existed at the time that he commenced his task, and only needed repairs. The work was partitioned among at least 37 working parties, who labored simultaneously, with material ready at hand; and, notwithstanding all menaces, uninterruptedly.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Elul - The sixth month, corresponding to the latter part of August and the beginning of September.

In fifty and two days - Josephus states that the repairs of the wall occupied two years and four months. But Nehemiah's narrative is thoroughly consistent with itself, and contains in it nothing that is improbable. The walls everywhere existed at the time that he commenced his task, and only needed repairs. The work was partitioned among at least 37 working parties, who labored simultaneously, with material ready at hand; and, notwithstanding all menaces, uninterruptedly.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Elul sixth monththat is, September.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The wall completed, and the impression made by this work upon the enemies of the Jews. - Neh 6:15 The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, i.e., of the sixth month, in fifty-two days. According to this statement, it must have been begun on the third day of the fifth month (Ab). The year is not mentioned, the before-named (Neh 2:1) twentieth year of Artaxerxes being intended. This agrees with the other chronological statements of this book. For, according to Neh 2:1, it was in Nisan (the first month) of this year that Nehemiah entreated permission of the king to go to Jerusalem; and we learn from Neh 5:14 and Neh 13:6 that he was governor in Jerusalem from the twentieth year onwards, and must therefore have set out for that place immediately after receiving the royal permission. In this case, he might well arrive in Jerusalem before the expiration of the fourth month. He then surveyed the wall, and called a public assembly for the purpose of urging the whole community to enter heartily upon the work of restoration (Neh 2:11-17). All this might take place in the course of the fourth month, so that the work could be actually taken in hand in the fifth. Nor is there any reasonable ground, as Bertheau has already shown, for doubting the correctness of the statement, that the building was completed in fifty-two days, and (with Ewald) altering the fifty-two days into two years and four months. (Note: Ewald, Gesch. iv. p. 178, thinks that traces of the correct reading of this verse are found in the statement of Josephus, Ant. xi. 5. 7f., that the wall of Jerusalem was finished in two years and four months, and that the word וּשׁנתים may have been omitted from Neh 6:15 by an ancient clerical error, though he is obliged to admit that Josephus in other instances gives no trustworthy dates concerning Nehemiah, whom he makes arrive at Jerusalem in the twenty-fifth, and complete the wall in the twenty-eight year of Xerxes. On the other hand, Bertheau has already remarked, that even if שׁנתים is supplied, no agreement with the statement of Josephus is obtained, since the question still remains how four months can be made out of fifty-two days, or vice versa, fifty-two days of four months. In fact, it is vain to seek for any common ground on which these two different statements can be harmonized; and hence the two years and four months of Josephus can scarcely be regarded as furnishing traces of another reading of the text.) For we must in this case consider, 1st, the necessity for hastening the work repeatedly pointed out by Nehemiah; 2nd, the zeal and relatively very large number of builders - the whole community, both the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Jericho, Tekoa, Gibeon, Mizpah, etc. having combined their efforts; 3rd, that the kind of exertion demanded by such laborious work and unintermitted watchfulness as are described Neh 4, though it might be continued for fifty-two days, could scarcely endure during a longer period; and lastly, the amount of the work itself, which must not be regarded as the rebuilding of the whole wall, but only as the restoration of those portions that had been destroyed, the repair of the breaches (Neh 1:3; Neh 2:13; Neh 6:1), and of the ruined gates, - a large portion of wall and at least one gate having remained uninjured.). To this must be added that the material, so far as stone was concerned, was close at hand, stone needing for the most part to be merely brought out of the ruins; besides which, materials of all kind might have been collected and prepared beforehand. It is, moreover, incorrect to compute the extent of this fortified wall by the extent of the wall of modern Jerusalem. Neh 6:16 The news that the wall was finished spread fear among the enemies, viz., among the nations in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem (comp. Neh 4:1; Neh 5:9); they were much cast down, and perceived "that this work was effected with the help of our God." The expression בעניהם יפּלוּ occurs only here, and must be explained according to פּניו יפּלוּ, his countenance fell (Gen 4:5), and לב יפּל, the heart fails (i.e., the courage) (Sa1 17:32): they sank in their own eyes, i.e., they felt themselves cast down, discouraged.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The wall completed, and the impression made by this work upon the enemies of the Jews. - Neh 6:15 The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, i.e., of the sixth month, in fifty-two days. According to this statement, it must have been begun on the third day of the fifth month (Ab). The year is not mentioned, the before-named (Neh 2:1) twentieth year of Artaxerxes being intended. This agrees with the other chronological statements of this book. For, according to Neh 2:1, it was in Nisan (the first month) of this year that Nehemiah entreated permission of the king to go to Jerusalem; and we learn from Neh 5:14 and Neh 13:6 that he was governor in Jerusalem from the twentieth year onwards, and must therefore have set out for that place immediately after receiving the royal permission. In this case, he might well arrive in Jerusalem before the expiration of the fourth month. He then surveyed the wall, and called a public assembly for the purpose of urging the whole community to enter heartily upon the work of restoration (Neh 2:11-17). All this might take place in the course of the fourth month, so that the work could be actually taken in hand in the fifth. Nor is there any reasonable ground, as Bertheau has already shown, for doubting the correctness of the statement, that the building was completed in fifty-two days, and (with Ewald) altering the fifty-two days into two years and four months.

(Note: Ewald, Gesch. iv. p. 178, thinks that traces of the correct reading of this verse are found in the statement of Josephus, Ant. xi. 5. 7f., that the wall of Jerusalem was finished in two years and four months, and that the word וּשׁנתים may have been omitted from Neh 6:15 by an ancient clerical error, though he is obliged to admit that Josephus in other instances gives no trustworthy dates concerning Nehemiah, whom he makes arrive at Jerusalem in the twenty-fifth, and complete the wall in the twenty-eight year of Xerxes. On the other hand, Bertheau has already remarked, that even if שׁנתים is supplied, no agreement with the statement of Josephus is obtained, since the question still remains how four months can be made out of fifty-two days, or vice versa, fifty-two days of four months. In fact, it is vain to seek for any common ground on which these two different statements can be harmonized; and hence the two years and four months of Josephus can scarcely be regarded as furnishing traces of another reading of the text.)

For we must in this case consider, 1st, the necessity for hastening the work repeatedly pointed out by Nehemiah; 2nd, the zeal and relatively very large number of builders - the whole community, both the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Jericho, Tekoa, Gibeon, Mizpah, etc. having combined their efforts; 3rd, that the kind of exertion demanded by such laborious work and unintermitted watchfulness as are described Neh 4, though it might be continued for fifty-two days, could scarcely endure during a longer period; and lastly, the amount of the work itself, which must not be regarded as the rebuilding of the whole wall, but only as the restoration of those portions that had been destroyed, the repair of the breaches (Neh 1:3; Neh 2:13; Neh 6:1), and of the ruined gates, - a large portion of wall and at least one gate having remained uninjured.). To this must be added that the material, so far as stone was concerned, was close at hand, stone needing for the most part to be merely brought out of the ruins; besides which, materials of all kind might have been collected and prepared beforehand. It is, moreover, incorrect to compute the extent of this fortified wall by the extent of the wall of modern Jerusalem.

Neh 6:16

The news that the wall was finished spread fear among the enemies, viz., among the nations in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem (comp. Neh 4:1; Neh 5:9); they were much cast down, and perceived "that this work was effected with the help of our God." The expression בעניהם יפּלוּ occurs only here, and must be explained according to פּניו יפּלוּ, his countenance fell (Gen 4:5), and לב יפּל, the heart fails (i.e., the courage) (Sa1 17:32): they sank in their own eyes, i.e., they felt themselves cast down, discouraged.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Elul - Answering part to our August, and part to September.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The twenty and fifth - of - Elul - This Jewish month answers to a part of our August and September. Fifty and two days - I see no difficulty in supposing that several thousand workmen, each of whom was working as for God, should be able to complete this wall in fifty-two days. There is little doubt that several parts of the old wall were entire; in many places the foundations still remained; there were all the materials of the old wall still at hand; and though they had to clear and carry away much rubbish, yet they do not appear to have had any stones to quarry. The work mentioned here was little when compared to what Caesar did in Gaul and other places; and to what Titus did at Jerusalem, who built a wall round Jerusalem of five thousand paces in three days, besides, thirteen towers of ten stadia in circuit. And Quintus Curtius and Arrian inform us that Alexander the Great built the walls of Alexandria, on the Tanais, which were nearly eight miles in compass, in the space of between twenty and thirty days. Nehemiah therefore had time sufficient in fifty-two days to repair and restore the walls of Jerusalem. See Calmet on this place.

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³² And David [01732] said [0559] to Saul [07586], Let no man's [0120] heart [03820] fail [05307] because of him; thy servant [05650] will go [03212] and fight [03898] with this Philistine [06430].

⁵ But unto Cain [07014] and to his offering [04503] he had not respect [08159]. And Cain [07014] was very [03966] wroth [02734], and his countenance [06440] fell [05307].

⁹ Also I said [0559], It is not good [02896] that [01697] ye do [06213]: ought ye not to walk [03212] in the fear [03374] of our God [0430] because of the reproach [02781] of the heathen [01471] our enemies [0341]?

¹ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat [05571] heard [08085] that we builded [01129] the wall [02346], he was wroth [02734], and took great [07235] indignation [03707], and mocked [03932] the Jews [03064].

¹⁶ And it came to pass, that when all our enemies [0341] heard [08085] thereof, and all the heathen [01471] that were about us [05439] saw [07200] these things, they were much [03966] cast down [05307] in their own eyes [05869]: for they perceived [03045] that this work [04399] was wrought [06213] of our God [0430].

¹ Now it came to pass, when Sanballat [05571], and Tobiah [02900], and Geshem [01654] the Arabian [06163], and the rest [03499] of our enemies [0341], heard [08085] that I had builded [01129] the wall [02346], and that there was no breach [06556] left [03498] therein; (though [01571] [05704] at that time [06256] I had not set up [05975] the doors [01817] upon the gates [08179];)

¹³ And I went out [03318] by night [03915] by the gate [08179] of the valley [01516], even before [06440] the dragon [08577] well [05869] [05886], and to the dung [0830] port [08179], and viewed [07663] [07665] the walls [02346] of Jerusalem [03389], which were broken down [06555], and the gates [08179] thereof were consumed [0398] with fire [0784].

³ And they said [0559] unto me, The remnant [07604] that are left [07604] of the captivity [07628] there in the province [04082] are in great [01419] affliction [07451] and reproach [02781]: the wall [02346] of Jerusalem [03389] also is broken down [06555], and the gates [08179] thereof are burned [03341] with fire [0784].

¹⁵ So the wall [02346] was finished [07999] in the twenty [06242] and fifth [02568] day of the month Elul [0435], in fifty [02572] and two [08147] days [03117].

¹¹ So I came [0935] to Jerusalem [03389], and was there three [07969] days [03117].
¹² And I arose [06965] in the night [03915], I and some [04592] few [04592] men [0582] with me; neither told [05046] I any man [0120] what my God [0430] had put [05414] in my heart [03820] to do [06213] at Jerusalem [03389]: neither was there any beast [0929] with me, save the beast [0929] that I rode upon [07392].
¹³ And I went out [03318] by night [03915] by the gate [08179] of the valley [01516], even before [06440] the dragon [08577] well [05869] [05886], and to the dung [0830] port [08179], and viewed [07663] [07665] the walls [02346] of Jerusalem [03389], which were broken down [06555], and the gates [08179] thereof were consumed [0398] with fire [0784].
¹⁴ Then I went on [05674] to the gate [08179] of the fountain [05869], and to the king's [04428] pool [01295]: but there was no place [04725] for the beast [0929] that was under me to pass [05674].
¹⁵ Then went I up [05927] in the night [03915] by the brook [05158], and viewed [07663] [07665] the wall [02346], and turned back [07725], and entered [0935] by the gate [08179] of the valley [01516], and so returned [07725].
¹⁶ And the rulers [05461] knew [03045] not whither I went [01980], or what I did [06213]; neither had I as yet [03651] told [05046] it to the Jews [03064], nor to the priests [03548], nor to the nobles [02715], nor to the rulers [05461], nor to the rest [03499] that did [06213] the work [04399].
¹⁷ Then said [0559] I unto them, Ye see [07200] the distress [07451] that we are in, how Jerusalem [03389] lieth waste [02720], and the gates [08179] thereof are burned [03341] with fire [0784]: come [03212], and let us build up [01129] the wall [02346] of Jerusalem [03389], that we be no more a reproach [02781].

⁶ But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem [03389]: for in the two [08147] and thirtieth [07970] year [08141] of Artaxerxes [0783] king [04428] of Babylon [0894] came [0935] I unto the king [04428], and after [07093] certain days [03117] obtained I leave [07592] of the king [04428]:

¹⁴ Moreover from the time [03117] that I was appointed [06680] to be their governor [06346] in the land [0776] of Judah [03063], from the twentieth [06242] year [08141] even unto the two [08147] and thirtieth [07970] year [08141] of Artaxerxes [0783] the king [04428], that is, twelve [08147] [06240] years [08141], I and my brethren [0251] have not eaten [0398] the bread [03899] of the governor [06346].

¹ And it came to pass in the month [02320] Nisan [05212], in the twentieth [06242] year [08141] of Artaxerxes [0783] the king [04428], that wine [03196] was before [06440] him: and I took up [05375] the wine [03196], and gave [05414] it unto the king [04428]. Now I had not been beforetime sad [07451] in his presence [06440].

¹⁵ So the wall [02346] was finished [07999] in the twenty [06242] and fifth [02568] day of the month Elul [0435], in fifty [02572] and two [08147] days [03117].