And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I answered them after the same manner.

and they send unto me, according to this word, four times, and I return them word according to this word.

And four times they sent to me in this way, and I sent them the same answer.

Then they sent to me, with this same word, four times. And I responded to them with the same word as before.

Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort,.... Being very desirous of getting him into their hands, and therefore were very pressing and importunate:
and I answered them after the same manner; every time as before, he being as much bent on finishing the work as they were to divert him from it.

They sent to him four times in the same manner (הזּה כּדּבר, comp. 2-Samuel 15:6), and Nehemiah gave them the same answer.

Four times, &c. - We must never be overcome by the greatest importunity, to do anything ill or imprudent: but when we are attacked with the same temptation, still resist it with the same reason and resolution.