Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 4:2

2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria , and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortifie themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day ? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burnt ?

Tobiah, v. 3. and Geshem, ch. 2. 19. and others, whom he calls his brethren, because of their conjunction with him in office and interest.

Whom he designed hereby to incense against them, or at least to understand their minds herein.

Do they intend to begin, and finish the work, and keep the feast of dedication by sacrifice all in one day? for if they spend any long time about it, they cannot think that we and the rest of their Neighbours will suffer them to do it. Thus he persuaded himself and his companions, that their attempt was ridiculous; and this mistake kept him from giving them any disturbance, till it was too late. So God infaruated him to his own grief and shame, and to the advantage of his people.

Will they pick up their broken stones out of the ruines, and patch them together, for other materials they want.

i. e. Which stones were burnt, and broken, or consumed to powder, to wit, by the Chaldeans when they took the City. See on ch. 1. 3.

Marginal references: Heb. leave to themselves.