Nehemiah 6
Commentary from 1 father
that Sanaballat and Gesam sent to me, saying, Come and let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they [were] plotting to do me mischief.
καὶ ἀπέστειλε Σαναβαλλὰτ καὶ Γησὰμ πρός με λέγων· δεῦρο καὶ συναχθῶμεν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἐν ταῖς κώμαις ἐν πεδίῳ ᾿Ωνώ· καὶ αὐτοὶ λογιζόμενοι ποιῆσαί μοι πονηρίαν.
и҆ посла̀ санавалла́тъ и҆ гиса́мъ ко мнѣ̀, глагѡ́люща: прїидѝ, и҆ собере́мсѧ вкꙋ́пѣ въ ве́сехъ на по́ли ѡ҆нѡ̀ (глаго́лемѣмъ). Ті́и же помышлѧ́ста мнѣ̀ сотвори́ти ѕло́е.
So I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I shall not be able to come down, lest the work should cease: as soon as I shall have finished it, I will come down to you.
καὶ ἀπέστειλα ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγων· ἔργον μέγα ἐγὼ ποιῶ καὶ οὐ δυνήσομαι καταβῆναι, μή ποτε καταπαύσῃ τὸ ἔργον· ὡς ἂν τελειώσω αὐτό, καταβήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
И҆ посла́хъ къ ни́ма послѡ́въ, глаго́лѧ: дѣ́ло вели́ко а҆́зъ творю̀ и҆ не могꙋ̀ сни́ти, да не преста́нетъ дѣ́ло: є҆гда́ же совершꙋ̀ є҆̀, взы́дꙋ къ ва́ма.
And they sent to me [again] to this effect; and I sent them [word] accordingly.
καὶ ἀπέστειλαν πρός με ὡς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, καὶ ἀπέστειλα αὐτοῖς κατὰ ταῦτα.
И҆ посла́ста ко мнѣ̀, ꙗ҆́коже глаго́лъ се́й, четы́рижды, и҆ посла́хъ къ ни́ма по си̑мъ.
Then Sanaballat sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρός με Σαναβαλλὰτ τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπιστολὴν ἀνεῳγμένην ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ присла̀ ко мнѣ̀ санавалла́тъ пѧ́тое ѻ҆́трока своего̀, и҆ посла́нїе ѿве́рсто въ рꙋкꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ бѣ̀ напи́сано въ не́мъ:
And in it was written, It has been reported among the Gentiles that thou and the Jews are planning to revolt: therefore thou art building the wall, and thou wilt be a king to them.
καὶ ἦν γεγραμμένον ἐν αὐτῇ· «᾿Εν ἔθνεσιν ἠκούσθη ὅτι σὺ καὶ οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι λογίζεσθε ἀποστατῆσαι, διὰ τοῦτο σὺ οἰκοδομεῖς τὸ τεῖχος, καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς βασιλέα·
во ꙗ҆зы́цѣхъ ᲂу҆слы́шано є҆́сть, и҆ гиса́мъ речѐ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ты̀ и҆ і҆ꙋде́є мы́слите ѿстꙋпи́ти, сегѡ̀ ра́ди ты̀ созида́еши стѣ́нꙋ, и҆ ты̀ да бꙋ́деши и҆̀мъ въ царѧ̀:
And moreover thou hast appointed prophets to thyself, that thou mightest dwell in Jerusalem as a king over Juda: and now these words will be reported to the king. Now then, come, let us take counsel together.
καὶ πρὸς τούτοις προφήτας ἔστησας σεαυτῷ, ἵνα καθίσῃς ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ ᾿Ιούδα· καὶ νῦν ἀπαγγελήσονται τῷ βασιλεῖ οἱ λόγοι οὗτοι· καὶ νῦν δεῦρο βουλευσώμεθα ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.
и҆ къ си̑мъ проро́ки поста́вилъ є҆сѝ себѣ̀, да бꙋ́деши во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ царе́мъ над̾ і҆ꙋ́дою: и҆ нн҃ѣ возвѣстѧ́тсѧ царю̀ словеса̀ сїѧ̑: и҆ сегѡ̀ ра́ди нн҃ѣ прїидѝ, да сотвори́ма совѣ́тъ вкꙋ́пѣ.
And I sent to him, saying, It has not happened according to these words, [even] as thou sayest, for thou framest them falsely out of thy heart.
καὶ ἀπέστειλα πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγων· οὐκ ἐγενήθη ὡς οἱ λόγοι οὗτοι, ὡς σὺ λέγεις, ὅτι ἀπὸ καρδίας σου σὺ ψεύδῃ αὐτούς.
И҆ посла́хъ къ немꙋ̀, глаго́лѧ: не сотвори́сѧ по словесє́мъ си̑мъ, ꙗ҆́коже ты̀ глаго́леши, занѐ ѿ се́рдца твоегѡ̀ ты̀ лже́ши въ си́хъ:
For all were trying to alarm us, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from this work, and it shall not be done. Now therefore I have strengthened my hands.
ὅτι πάντες φοβερίζουσιν ἡμᾶς λέγοντες· ἐκλυθήσονται αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἔργου τούτου, καὶ οὐ ποιηθήσεται· καὶ νῦν ἐκραταίωσα τὰς χεῖράς μου».
ꙗ҆́кѡ всѝ страша́тъ на́съ, глаго́люще: ѡ҆слабѣ́ютъ рꙋ́цы и҆́хъ ѿ дѣ́ла сегѡ̀, и҆ не сотвори́тсѧ: и҆ нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆крѣпи́хъ рꙋ́ки моѧ̑.
But all these terrify us, etc. Therefore, in the spiritual structure, because the cunning enemy always tries to hinder our hands, let us always strive to strengthen them in good action with divine help.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And I came into the house of Semei the son of Dalaia the Son of Metabeel, and he was shut up; and he said, Let us assemble together in the house of God, in the midst of it, and let us shut the doors of it; for they are coming by night to slay thee.
Κἀγὼ εἰσῆλθον εἰς οἶκον Σεμεΐ υἱοῦ Δαλαΐα, υἱοῦ Μεταβεήλ —καὶ αὐτὸς συνεχόμενος— καὶ εἶπε· συναχθῶμεν εἰς οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ κλείσωμεν τὰς θύρας αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἔρχονται νυκτὸς φονεῦσαί σε.
И҆ а҆́зъ внидо́хъ въ до́мъ семе́а сы́на далаі́ева, сы́на метавеи́лева, и҆ то́й заключе́нъ, и҆ речѐ: да собере́мсѧ въ до́мъ бж҃їй посредѣ̀ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ заключи́мъ двє́ри є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ прихо́дѧтъ но́щїю, да ᲂу҆бїю́тъ тѧ̀.
And I entered the house of Shemaiah, etc. Assaulted by the treacheries of enemies, Nehemiah entered the house of Shemaiah as though of a friend and brother; but he also found him to be a traitor and enemy, since he had been corrupted by the gifts and friendship of outsiders; for the chosen always have battles without, fears within; not only apostles, but also prophets, lived lives beset by dangers from their kind, dangers from their demands, dangers from false brothers.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And I said, Who is the man that shall enter into the house, that he may live?
καὶ εἶπα· τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἀνήρ, ὃς εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὸν οἶκον καὶ ζήσεται;
И҆ реко́хъ: кто́ є҆сть мꙋ́жъ, ꙗ҆ко́въ а҆́зъ, и҆ ᲂу҆бѣжи́тъ; и҆лѝ кто̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ а҆́зъ, и҆́же вни́детъ въ до́мъ, и҆ жи́въ бꙋ́детъ; не вни́дꙋ.
And I observed, and, behold, God had not sent him, for the prophecy was a fable [devised] against me:
καὶ ἐπέγνων καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτόν, ὅτι ἡ προφητεία λόγος κατ’ ἐμοῦ, καὶ Τωβίας καὶ Σαναβαλλὰτ ἐμισθώσαντο
И҆ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́хъ, и҆ сѐ, бг҃ъ не посла̀ є҆гѡ̀: ꙗ҆́кѡ проро́чествова сло́во на мѧ̀.
and Tobias and Sanaballat had hired against me a multitude, that I might be frightened, and do this, and sin, and become to them an ill name, that they might reproach me.
ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ὄχλον, ὅπως φοβηθῶ καὶ ποιήσω οὕτως καὶ ἁμάρτω καὶ γένωμαι αὐτοῖς εἰς ὄνομα πονηρόν, ὅπως ὀνειδίσωσί με.
И҆ тѡві́а и҆ санавалла́тъ наѧ́ста на мѧ̀ наро́дъ, да ᲂу҆страшꙋ́сѧ, и҆ сотворю̀ та́кѡ, и҆ согрѣшꙋ̀, и҆ да бꙋ́дꙋ и҆̀мъ во и҆́мѧ ѕло̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ да поно́сѧтъ мѝ.
Remember, O God, Tobias and Sanaballat, according to these their deeds, and the prophetess Noadia, and the rest of the prophets who tried to alarm me.
μνήσθητι, ὁ Θεός, Τωβία καὶ Σαναβαλλάτ, ὡς τὰ ποιήματα αὐτοῦ ταῦτα, καὶ τῷ Νωαδίᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ καὶ τοῖς καταλοίποις τῶν προφητῶν, οἳ ἦσαν φοβερίζοντές με.
Помѧнѝ, бж҃е, тѡві́ю и҆ санавалла́та по дѣлѡ́мъ и҆́хъ си̑мъ, и҆ нѡаді́а проро́ка и҆ про́чихъ прорѡ́къ, и҆̀же страша́хꙋ мѧ̀.
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the [month] Elul, in fifty-two days.
Καὶ ἐτελέσθη τὸ τεῖχος πέμπτῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ ᾿Ελοὺλ μηνὸς εἰς πεντήκοντα καὶ δύο ἡμέρας.
И҆ соверши́сѧ стѣна̀ въ два́десѧть пѧ́тый мцⷭ҇а є҆лꙋ́ла {а҆́ѵгꙋста} въ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ и҆ два̀ дни̑.
Now the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, etc. The month Elul, according to the Hebrews, is the sixth month of the year, which the Romans call September. And rightly is the wall of the holy city completed in the sixth month of the year, so that the perfect action of the faithful, whether penitents or innocents, is also designated in this ultimate time. For the number six usually signifies the perfection of good works; either because the Lord completed the creation of the world on the sixth day, and on the seventh He rested; or because we are to labor in good works in the six ages of this present world, and to hope for the Sabbath of souls in the seventh age, which is in the life to come. Rightly is it completed on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, on account of the five senses of the body, by the ministry of which good works are to be performed externally. For as the simple number five usually signifies these senses, so when it is multiplied by itself and brought to twenty-five, it demonstrates these same senses with greater perfection. Thus we complete the wall of Jerusalem on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, when diligently consecrating all the senses of our body to divine services, we bring the endeavors of virtues begun to a firm end, and faithfully complete with the help of the Lord what we have begun to do for the strengthening of Catholic peace. This wall is also rightly said to have been completed in fifty-two days; for the fiftieth psalm is the psalm of penitence and forgiveness, in which also the Prophet specifically prays about the building of this city, saying: "Deal favorably, O Lord, in Thy good will with Zion, that the walls of Jerusalem may be built" (Psalm 51). On the fiftieth day of the Lord's resurrection, the Holy Spirit came to the primitive Church, through whom the devotion of repentance is infused in us, and the gift of pardon is granted to penitents. Moreover, there are two precepts of charity, namely the love of God and the love of neighbor, through which, granted to us by the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins is given, and we are commanded to labor for the attainment of eternal life. Therefore, most fittingly, the citizens rebuilding the wall of the holy city, which had been destroyed by enemies, restore it in fifty-two days, because this indeed is the perfection of the just in this life, that through the grace of divine inspiration, they punish whatever they have sinned by repenting, and henceforth adorn themselves with good works in the love of God and neighbor.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard [of it], that all the nations round about us feared, and great alarm fell upon them, and they knew that it was of our God that this work should be finished.
καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἤκουσαν πάντες οἱ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐπέπεσε φόβος σφόδρα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐγενήθη τελειωθῆναι τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο.
И҆ бы́сть є҆гда̀ ᲂу҆слы́шаша всѝ вразѝ на́ши, и҆ ᲂу҆боѧ́шасѧ всѝ ꙗ҆зы́цы, и҆̀же ѡ҆́крестъ на́съ, и҆ нападѐ стра́хъ вели́къ пред̾ ѻ҆́чи и҆́хъ, и҆ позна́ша, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѿ гдⷭ҇а бг҃а на́шегѡ соверше́но бы́сть дѣ́ло сїѐ.
It happened... that all the nations feared, etc. Those who previously sought to terrify the builders of the holy city, to delay them from working, now fear themselves with the construction of the same city completed, and they are disheartened, recognizing that this building was begun and completed by the authoring of God. Thus also in the holy Church, when a firm structure of charity, continence, peace, and other virtues has risen, the unclean spirits fear, and the temptation of their strength is repelled by our forces, and rather promotes our victory. This can also be received concerning heretics as well as false Catholics; who, by the constant faith of the good working through love, either are corrected and amended, or being exposed are guarded against and expelled from the boundaries of the Church.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And in those days letters came to Tobias from many nobles of Juda, and those of Tobias came to them.
καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἀπὸ πολλῶν ἐντίμων ᾿Ιούδα ἐπιστολαὶ ἐπορεύοντο πρὸς Τωβίαν, καὶ αἱ Τωβία ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτούς,
И҆ во дни̑ ѡ҆́ны ѿ мно́гихъ держа́вныхъ і҆ꙋ́диныхъ посла̑нїѧ прихожда́хꙋ къ тѡві́и, и҆ тѡві̑ина (посла̑нїѧ) прихожда́хꙋ къ ни̑мъ.
For many in Juda were bound to him by oath, because he was son-in-law of Sechenias the son of Herae; and Jonan his son had taken the daughter of Mesulam the son of Barachia to wife.
ὅτι πολλοὶ ἐν ᾿Ιούδᾳ ἔνορκοι ἦσαν αὐτῷ, ὅτι γαμβρὸς ἦν τοῦ Σεχενία υἱοῦ ῾Ηραέ, καὶ ᾿Ιωνὰν υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἔλαβε τὴν θυγατέρα Μεσουλὰμ υἱοῦ Βαραχία εἰς γυναῖκα.
Мно́зи бо во і҆ꙋде́и клѧ́шасѧ є҆мꙋ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ зѧ́ть бѣ̀ сехені́и сы́на и҆ра́ева: и҆ і҆ѡнаѳа́нъ сы́нъ є҆гѡ̀ поѧ̀ дще́рь месꙋла́ма сы́на варахі́ина въ женꙋ̀.
And they reported his words to me, and carried out my words to him: and Tobias sent letters to terrify me.
καὶ τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ ἦσαν λέγοντες πρός με καὶ λόγους μου ἦσαν ἐκφέροντες αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐπιστολὰς ἀπέστειλε Τωβίας φοβερίσαι με.
И҆ словеса̀ є҆гѡ̀ бы́ша глаго́лющїи ко мнѣ̀, и҆ словеса̀ моѧ̑ бы́ша и҆зносѧ́щїи є҆мꙋ̀. И҆ посла́нїе посла̀ тѡві́а, да ᲂу҆страши́тъ менѐ.
Now it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gesam the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and [that] there was no opening left therein; ([but] hitherto I had not set up the doors on the gates;)
ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο καθὼς ἠκούσθη τῷ Σαναβαλλὰτ καὶ Τωβίᾳ καὶ τῷ Γησὰμ τῷ ᾿Αραβὶ καὶ τοῖς καταλοίποις ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν ὅτι ᾠκοδόμησα τὸ τεῖχος, καὶ οὐ κατελείφθη ἐν αὐτοῖς πνοή. ἕως τοῦ καιροῦ ἐκείνου θύρας οὐκ ἐπέστησα ἐν ταῖς πύλαις.
Бы́сть же є҆гда̀ ᲂу҆слы́ша санавалла́тъ и҆ тѡві́а и҆ гиса́мъ а҆раві́йскїй и҆ про́чїи вразѝ на́ши, ꙗ҆́кѡ созда́хъ стѣ́нꙋ, и҆ не ѡ҆ста́сѧ въ ни́хъ сква́жнѧ: и҆ а҆́зъ да́же до вре́мене ѻ҆́нагѡ две́рїй не поста́вихъ во вратѣ́хъ: