Rashi, on Neh 6:3

“And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come, and go down to you.”

““I am doing great work of the buildings (of the city); other editions read: [of the buildings] of dust. Why should...stop Why should the work be curtailed? when I leave it Heb. אַרְפֶּהָ, lit. [slacken] my hand from the building. and come down to you to speak with and to meet with you.”

Hebrew and Aramaic words are the commentator’s citations of the sacred text; the English translation that follows each is the translator’s.

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.