4:2 And he spake before his a brethren and the army of
Samaria, and said, What do these b feeble Jews? will they
fortify 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 burned?
(a) Of his companions who dwelt in Samaria.
(b) Thus the wicked who do not consider that God's power is
always ready to defend his, mock them as thought they
were weak and feeble.
4:4c Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their
reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey d
in the land of captivity:
(c) This is the remedy that the children of God have against
the derision and threatenings of their enemies, to flee
to God by prayer.
(d) Let them be spoiled and led away captive.
4:5 And cover not their e iniquity, and let not their sin be
blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked [thee]
to anger before the builders.
(e) Let the plagues declare to the world that they set
themselves against you and your Church: that he prays
only having respect for God's glory and not for any
private affection, or grudge.
4:12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them
came, they said unto us f ten times, g From all places
whence ye shall return unto us [they will be upon you].
(f) That is, often.
(g) They who brought the tidings said this, when you leave
your work, and go either to eat or to rest, your
enemies will assail you.
4:14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to
the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid
of them: h remember the Lord, [which is] great and
terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your
daughters, your wives, and your houses.
(h) Who is always on hand to deliver his out of danger: and
therefore seeing they should fight for the maintenance
of God's glory, and for the preservation of their own
lives and of theirs, he encourages them to play the
valiant men.
4:16 And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half
of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of
them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and
the habergeons; and the rulers [were] i behind all the
house of Judah.
(i) To overcome them and encourage them in their work.
4:20 In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet,
k resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
(k) Meaning, to resist their enemies, if need be.
4:23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men
of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our
clothes, [saving that] every one put them off l for
washing.
(l) That is, when they purified themselves or else when
they washed their clothes.
