He came safely to Jerusalem after a protected journey, with royal letters to the governors of the provinces along his route securing him honorable reception, prompt assistance, and marked consideration, and guarded by the power of the Persian king with a military escort so that no enemy dared molest him. His coming with an escort showed he had come on an important mission and excited the jealousy of the heathen tribes living near the city, who had often shown enmity against the Jews with injury and insult, foremost Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, who from the first watched his movements with critical eyes to thwart his plans and hinder his work.
The setting is Jerusalem with broken-down walls, where he came and remained three days before openly acting. The three days were part of careful preparation, exercising caution and prudence and keeping his purpose and the nature of his mission undisclosed even from his countrymen, because bitter and determined enemies stood ready to oppose him, so that careless actions would not alert enemies and endanger the undertaking. He waited until study of the situation enabled him to form his plans to secure the cooperation of the people and set them at work before opposition was aroused.
He bore a royal commission requiring the inhabitants to cooperate with him in rebuilding the walls, but he did not depend on the exercise of authority; he sought to gain their confidence and sympathy, knowing that a union of hearts as well as of hands was essential. In coming he chose a few men whom he knew to be worthy of confidence, told them the circumstances that had led him to come, the object he wished to accomplish, and the plans he proposed to follow, and at once enlisted their interest and secured their assistance.
He made a secret midnight circuit inspecting the walls in secrecy and silence, with the rulers not knowing where he went or what he did and with nothing yet told to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the rulers, or the rest that would do the work. That secret inspection contributed greatly to his success, for it enabled him to speak of the weakness and degradation of the city with an accuracy and minuteness that astonished his hearers. The impression made on him gave earnestness and power to his words to arouse their dormant energies and unite their scattered numbers. After completing the circuit he spent the remainder of the night in prayer, because the morning would demand earnest effort to arouse and unite his dispirited and divided countrymen, whom he then called together on the morrow.
He came safely to Jerusalem after a protected journey, with royal letters to the governors of the provinces along his route securing him honorable reception, prompt assistance, and marked consideration, and guarded by the power of the Persian king with a military escort so that no enemy dared molest him. His coming with an escort showed he had come on an important mission and excited the jealousy of the heathen tribes living near the city, who had often shown enmity against the Jews with injury and insult, foremost Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, who from the first watched his movements with critical eyes to thwart his plans and hinder his work.
The setting is Jerusalem with broken-down walls, where he came and remained three days before openly acting. The three days were part of careful preparation, exercising caution and prudence and keeping his purpose and the nature of his mission undisclosed even from his countrymen, because bitter and determined enemies stood ready to oppose him, so that careless actions would not alert enemies and endanger the undertaking. He waited until study of the situation enabled him to form his plans to secure the cooperation of the people and set them at work before opposition was aroused.
He bore a royal commission requiring the inhabitants to cooperate with him in rebuilding the walls, but he did not depend on the exercise of authority; he sought to gain their confidence and sympathy, knowing that a union of hearts as well as of hands was essential. In coming he chose a few men whom he knew to be worthy of confidence, told them the circumstances that had led him to come, the object he wished to accomplish, and the plans he proposed to follow, and at once enlisted their interest and secured their assistance.
He made a secret midnight circuit inspecting the walls in secrecy and silence, with the rulers not knowing where he went or what he did and with nothing yet told to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the rulers, or the rest that would do the work. That secret inspection contributed greatly to his success, for it enabled him to speak of the weakness and degradation of the city with an accuracy and minuteness that astonished his hearers. The impression made on him gave earnestness and power to his words to arouse their dormant energies and unite their scattered numbers. After completing the circuit he spent the remainder of the night in prayer, because the morning would demand earnest effort to arouse and unite his dispirited and divided countrymen, whom he then called together on the morrow.