So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty and two days.
Ver. 15. So the wall was finished] Though with much ado, and maugre the malice of all foreign and internal enemies. So shall the work of grace in men's hearts: it is perfected there by opposition, and grows gradually, but constantly and infallibly.
In the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul] Which was their sixth month, answering, mostly, to our August. This (saith Beda) answered both unto the six days of God's working to make the world, after which a rest followed, and to the everlasting rest in heaven after six ages of the world, spent in toil and labour!
In fifty and two days] A very short time for the despatch of so great a work. But nescit tarda molimina Spiritus Sancti gratia. God was much seen herein; and the enemies' courage much quailed. But what meant Josephus to say, that the wall was in building two years and three months? It appeareth hereby, and by many other passages in his Jewish Antiquities, that he had not much read, or at least minded, the Holy Scriptures. Of this short time spent in building the wall, Daniel seemeth to prophesy, saith an interpreter, when he saith, that it should be built again in angustiis temporum, in the straits of time, Daniel 9:25; neither hold we so much strange at it, since the hands at it were many and those were motitantes, nimble and cheerful, and the princes were present to prick them on, and they repaired only and built upon the old foundation; and lastly the very enemies were convinced that the work was wrought of God, Nehemiah 6:16; what marvel, therefore, that it went so on end?