OET interlinear NEH 4:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בָּ֣אוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was just=as they_went the,Jews [who,were]_dwelling beside,them and=they_said to/for=us ten times from=all the,places which/who turn to,us )

The implication is that they came to Jerusalem to speak with the Jewish leaders there. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: [came to Jerusalem to speak with us]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֔ים הַ⁠יֹּשְׁבִ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑⁠ם

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was just=as they_went the,Jews [who,were]_dwelling beside,them and=they_said to/for=us ten times from=all the,places which/who turn to,us )

Them means the enemies Nehemiah has been talking about, so this expression likely refers to the Jews who lived near Nehemiah and those helping him. But it does not mean all of these Jews, just some who came to Jerusalem. Nehemiah is describing part of this group as if it were the whole group. Alternate translation: [some of the Jews who lived near our enemies]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וַ⁠יֹּ֤אמְרוּ לָ֨⁠נוּ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was just=as they_went the,Jews [who,were]_dwelling beside,them and=they_said to/for=us ten times from=all the,places which/who turn to,us )

Here the number 10 is used to represent “many.” Alternate translation: [spoke to us many times]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מִ⁠כָּל־הַ⁠מְּקֹמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁ֥וּבוּ עָלֵֽי⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was just=as they_went the,Jews [who,were]_dwelling beside,them and=they_said to/for=us ten times from=all the,places which/who turn to,us )

The meaning of this Hebrew phrase is uncertain. However, one explanation that would fit the context is that these exposed Jewish communities sent representatives to Jerusalem to tell Nehemiah that they were afraid of being attacked in their villages. The “places where you return” could mean “anywhere we live,” referring to the villages, and “they are on us” could mean that the enemies could attack these undefended towns at any time. Perhaps these representatives were asking Nehemiah to release their able-bodied men from work duty and send them home so they could help defend their families and neighbors. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say something like this explicitly. Alternate translation: [Our enemies could attack us anywhere we live, so let our men return home so they can defend us!]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

מִ⁠כָּל־הַ⁠מְּקֹמ֖וֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was just=as they_went the,Jews [who,were]_dwelling beside,them and=they_said to/for=us ten times from=all the,places which/who turn to,us )

This phrase likely indicates “in every direction.” The word “all” is an exaggeration for emphasis. Alternate translation: [anywhere we live]