The month Elul; answering part to our August and part to September. In fifty and two days; to be computed, either,
1. From the time of Sanballat's sending this letter to him; or,
2. As most judge, from the beginning of the work; which though a great thing, yet it is not at all incredible, considering,
1. That the walls and gates were not wholly pulled down by the Chaldeans; for to what purpose should they make that waste of time and labour?
2. That where the walls were thrown down, yet the materials remained, which they now used.
3. That in the building of the walls they minded not curiosity, but only strength and safety.
4. The great numbers of the builders, and the prudent distribution of the work among them, and their admirable zeal and diligence in the work.
5. That there want not parallel instances even in heathen authors; for both Curtius and Arrian report, that Alexander the Great built the walls of new Alexandria, which contained above seven miles in length, within twenty days space.
6. That there was an eminent hand of God in carrying on this work, which their very enemies here acknowledge.