Commentario del capitolo
Nehemiah Capitolo 6
1
Ne 6:1-19.
繁體中文
Originale inglese
Ne 6:1-19.
SANBALLAT PRACTISES AGAINST NEHEMIAH BY INSIDIOUS ATTEMPTS.
2
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繁體中文
2-4. 參巴拉和基善就打發人來見我——撒瑪利亞的首領們既知不能用武力勝過尼希米，便決意以詭詐計謀占他上風。他們以此為念，便以友好方式了結彼此分歧為藉口，邀請他赴會。約定的地點是「在平原的某一村莊」。「在村莊」希伯來文作「在基非琳」，即「基非拉」，是便雅憫境內一城之名
（Jos 9:17；18:26）。
然而尼希米因懷疑對方別有用心，審慎地婉拒了邀請。雖然此舉重複了四次，[尼希米]始終如一的答覆是：他所從事的重要工作離不開他的親臨。這只是原因之一，但並非唯一的原因。他拒絕的主要原因乃是：他若被他們擒拿或殺害，城防工程就必中止，再無進展。
Originale inglese
2-4. Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me--The Samaritan leaders, convinced that they could not overcome Nehemiah by open arms, resolved to gain advantage over him by deceit and stratagem. With this in view, under pretext of terminating their differences in an amicable manner, they invited him to a conference. The place of rendezvous was fixed "in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono." "In the villages" is, Hebrew, "in Cephirim," or "Chephirah," the name of a town in the territory of Benjamin
(Jos 9:17; 18:26).
Nehemiah, however, apprehensive of some intended mischief, prudently declined the invitation. Though it was repeated four times, [Nehemiah's] uniform answer was that his presence could not be dispensed with from the important work in which he was engaged. This was one, though not the only, reason. The principal ground of his refusal was that his seizure or death at their hands would certainly put a stop to the further progress of the fortifications.
5
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繁體中文
5-9. 參巴拉……第五次打發僕人來，手裡拿著未封的信——在西亞，信捲起如地圖後，被壓扁至一英吋寬；不另密封，而在兩端用漿糊黏住。在東亞，波斯人把信捲成長約六英寸的卷狀，外用一小片紙以膠固定，再蓋上油墨印記；這墨類似我們的印刷油墨，但不及那樣濃稠。 從前送給顯要人物的書信，至今仍是裝在袋或囊中送出；即使是送給同等的人，也封裝起來——繫以彩色絲帶。但送給下屬或當被輕慢之人，書信則敞開送出——即不裝入袋中。尼希米習慣了波斯朝廷繁瑣的禮節，必立刻察覺缺少通常的禮數，知道這是出於故意的輕慢。信的內容同樣傲慢。大意是：他如此忙碌修築的工事，意在為他圖謀叛變造勢；他已雇用先知煽動百姓附和他的計畫，並擁立他為本地之王；為阻止這些遲早會傳到朝廷的傳言，所以急切地懇求他前來赴所願的會議。尼希米因自己清白無辜的意識而堅定，又識破這淺薄詭計的目的，便回覆說：並沒有上述那類的傳言，叛變之說和雇用煽動者的鼓動之辭，都是寫信人自己捏造的；他如今一如從前，拒絕離開他的工作。
Originale inglese
5-9. Then sent Sanballat his servant . . . the fifth time with an open letter in his hand--In Western Asia, letters, after being rolled up like a map, are flattened to the breadth of an inch; and instead of being sealed, they are pasted at the ends. In Eastern Asia, the Persians make up their letters in the form of a roll about six inches long, and a bit of paper is fastened round it with gum, and sealed with an impression of ink, which resembles our printers' ink, but it is not so thick. Letters were, and are still, sent to persons of distinction in a bag or purse, and even to equals they are enclosed--the tie being made with a colored ribbon. But to inferiors, or persons who are to be treated contemptuously, the letters were sent open--that is, not enclosed in a bag. Nehemiah, accustomed to the punctillious ceremonial of the Persian court, would at once notice the want of the usual formality and know that it was from designed disrespect. The strain of the letter was equally insolent. It was to this effect: The fortifications with which he was so busy were intended to strengthen his position in the view of a meditated revolt: he had engaged prophets to incite the people to enter into his design and support his claim to be their native king; and, to stop the circulation of such reports, which would soon reach the court, he was earnestly besought to come to the wished-for conference. Nehemiah, strong in the consciousness of his own integrity, and penetrating the purpose of this shallow artifice, replied that there were no rumors of the kind described, that the idea of a revolt and the stimulating addresses of hired demagogues were stories of the writer's own invention, and that he declined now, as formerly, to leave his work.
10
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繁體中文
10-14. 後來我到了示瑪雅的家，等等——此人是祭司之子，是尼希米親密信任的朋友。這年輕人自稱有先知的恩賜。他既受了參巴拉的暗中賄賂，便以假先知的身分告訴尼希米，說他的仇敵今夜要下手謀害他的性命。同時勸他為安全之見，避入聖所——那是一個因聖潔而堅固穩妥的密室。但這位高尚的省長決意無論如何堅守崗位，不肯因自己怯懦地離開聖殿與聖城不加守護，而使神和宗教的事業蒙羞。這陰謀，連同仇敵與猶太貴胄之間暗中勾結——這些貴胄因多比雅有猶太姻親而對他心存好感
（Ne 6:18）——都被尼希米不屈的勇氣與警醒，靠著神的賜福，得以挫敗。這樣，在艱難之時所建造的城牆
（Da 9:25） 終於在短短五十二日內順利完工
（Ne 6:15）。 這樣迅速的完工，即使假設舊牆尚有存留的部分，除非考慮到做工的人以宗教熱忱的火熱心情工作，如同從事神的事工一般，否則難以充分解釋。
Originale inglese
10-14. Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah, &c.--This man was the son of a priest, who was an intimate and confidential friend of Nehemiah. The young man claimed to be endowed with the gift of prophecy. Having been secretly bribed by Sanballat, he, in his pretended capacity of prophet, told Nehemiah that his enemies were that night to make an attempt upon his life. He advised him, at the same time, to consult his safety by concealing himself in the sanctuary, a crypt which, from its sanctity, was strong and secure. But the noble-minded governor determined at all hazards to remain at his post, and not bring discredit on the cause of God and religion by his unworthy cowardice in leaving the temple and city unprotected. This plot, together with a secret collusion between the enemy and the nobles of Judah who were favorably disposed towards the bad Samaritan in consequence of his Jewish connections
(Ne 6:18),
the undaunted courage and vigilance of Nehemiah were enabled, with the blessing of God, to defeat, and the erection of the walls thus built in troublous times
(Da 9:25)
was happily completed
(Ne 6:15)
in the brief space of fifty-two days. So rapid execution, even supposing some parts of the old wall standing, cannot be sufficiently accounted for, except by the consideration that the builders labored with the ardor of religious zeal, as men employed in the work of God.
Ne 6:1-19.
參巴拉以詭詐之計謀害尼希米。