13Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
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Cross-References
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible (1710)
(vv. 10-14)The Jews’ enemies leave no stone unturned, no way untried, to take Nehemiah off from building the wall about Jerusalem. In order to this they had tried to fetch him into the country to them, but in vain; now they try to drive him into the temple for his own safety; let him be any where but at his work. Observing him to be a cautious man, they will endeavour to gain their point by making him coward…
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