John Trapp on Nehemiah 4:15

Verſe 15. And it came to paſſe when the enemies heard] This rumour was enough to affray theſe no leſſe (now) timorous then (before) temerarious Samaritans: Great bragges they made at firſt what they would do; but now that they ſee they are defeated of their purpoſe, they are creſt-fallen, and have no minde at all to advance. So that to theſe may be fitly applyed that which Gaicciardine ſaith of Charles the eighth King of France in his expedition againſt Naples, that he came into the field like thunder and lightning, but went out like a ſnuff: more then a man at firſt, and leſſe then a woman at laſt.

And God had brought their counſel to nought] According to that of the Pſalmiſt, The Lord bringeth the counſel of the Heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counſel of the Lord ſtandeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations, Pſal. 33.10, 11. Here good men may learn, ſaith One, not to go nakedly, without weapons for their own neceſſary defence: and much leſſe, ſaid I, without their ſpiritual weapons (whether defenſive, as the ſhield of faith, the breaſt-plate of righteouſneſſe,Eph. 6. &c. or offenſive, as the Sword of the ſpirit the Word, and the darts of prayer) leſt they be ſurprized and ſubjugated by that old manſlayer.

That we returned all of us to the Wall] Not to the Tavern to toſſe pots (ſaith One) and boaſt of their great Victory: but in the fear of God they return to the Walls, and every man falleth to his work again. All Hiſtories declare, that the greateſt Kingdoms, when they fell to idleneſſe and luxury, then they loſt their former glory faſter then they won it. The Turkiſh Empire is thought to be on the declining hand,Turk. Hiſt. becauſe their late Emperours do far degenerate from their warlike progenitours, their Souldiers generally give themſelves to unwonted pleaſures, their ancient diſcipline of War is neglected, rebellions raiſed, &c.