The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Nehemiah 06
1 Now when it was reported to Sanballat,
Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the
rest of our enemies that I had built the
wall, and that there was no breach left in
it (though even to that time I had not set up
the doors in the gates),
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the
villages in the plain of Ono.” But they
intended to harm me.
3 I sent messengers to them, saying, “I
am doing a great work, so that I can’t come
down. Why should the work cease while I
leave it and come down to you?”
4 They sentto me four times like this; and
I answered them the same way.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me
the same way the fifth time with an open
letter in his hand,
6 in which was written, “It is reported
among the nations, and Gashmu says it,
that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall.
You would be their king, according to these
words.
7 You have also appointed prophets to
proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying,
‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will
be reported to the king according to these
words. Come now therefore, and let’s take
counsel together.”
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “There are
no such things done as you say, but you
imagine them out of your own heart.”
9 For they all would have made us afraid,
saying, “Their hands will be weakened
from the work, that it not be done.” But
now, strengthen my hands.
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the
son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who
was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let
us meet together in God’s house, within
the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the
temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes,
in the night they will come to kill you.”
11 I said, “Should a man like me flee?
Who is there that, being such as I, would go
into the temple to save his life? I will not go
in.”
12 I discerned, and behold, God had not senthim, buthepronouncedthisprophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had
hired him.
13 He was hired so that I would be afraid,
do so, and sin, and that they might have
material for an evil report, that they might
reproach me.
14 “Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and
also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest
of the prophets that would have put me in
fear.”
15 So the wall was finished in the twentyfifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 When all our enemies heard of it,
all the nations that were around us were
afraid, and they lost their confidence; for
they perceived that this work was done by
our God.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of
Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and
Tobiah’s letters came to them.
18 For there were many in Judah sworn
to him because he was the son-in-law
of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his
son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of
Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him.
Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.