Nehemiah 4:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelled by them came, they said to us ten times, From all places from where you shall return to us they will be on you.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelled by them came, they said to us ten times, From all places from where you shall return to us they will be on you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And it came about that when the Jews who were living near them came, they said to us ten times, From all directions they are coming against us.
Webster's Revision
And it came to pass, that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return to us they will be upon you.
World English Bible
It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
English Revised Version (ERV)
And it came to pass that, when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.
Definitions for Nehemiah 4:12
Clarke's Nehemiah 4:12 Bible Commentary
From all places whence ye shall return unto us - This verse is extremely difficult. Our translators have supplied the words, they will be upon you, which have nothing correspondent in the Hebrew. The Septuagint have given a good sense, Αναβαινουσιν εκ παντων των τοπων εφ' ἡμας, They come up from all places against us. The sense appears to be this: the Jews which dwelt among the Samaritans, etc., came often to Nehemiah from all quarters, where they sojourned, and told him the designs of his enemies against him: therefore, he set people with their swords, spears, and bows, to defend the walls. It is probable that instead of תשובו tashubu, "ye shall return," we should read חשבו chashebu, "they designed or meditated." This word is very similar to the other, and makes the sense very clear. "The Jews who dwelt among them told us frequently, from all places, what they designed against us." For this reading Houbigant, Michaelis and Dath contend. But this various reading is not found in any MS., and is not countenanced by any of the versions. See Nehemiah 4:15.
Barnes's Nehemiah 4:12 Bible Commentary
Ten times - i. e. repeatedly.
From all places ... - Better as in the margin. The Jews who dwelt on the Samaritan border, came to Jerusalem and tried to withdraw their contingents of workmen from the work, representing to them the impending danger, and saying, "You must return to your homes, and so escape it."
Wesley's Nehemiah 4:12 Bible Commentary
4:12 By them - Or, among them: whereby they came to the knowledge of their counsels. Tho' these had not zeal enough to help in the work, yet they had some concern for their brethren. Ten tribes - Very often, a certain number for an uncertain. Be upon you - They will invade you every way, by which we can come to you, or you to us; therefore keep watches on every side.