Neh 6
1
Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the
Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there
was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in
the gates;)
2
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of]
the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come
down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4
And they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same
manner.
5
Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter
in his hand,
6
wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you
and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would
be their king, according to these words.
7
And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There
is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words.
Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8
Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign
them out of your own heart.
9
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from
the work, that it be not done. But now, [O God], strengthen you my hands.
10
And I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was
shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple,
and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay you; yea, in the
night will they come to slay you.
11
And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I,
would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12
And I discerned, and, behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy
against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13
For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that
they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14
Remember, O 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 twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty
and two days.
16
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard [thereof], that all the nations that
were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived
that this work was wrought of our God.
17
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and [the letters]
of Tobiah 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 to wife.
19
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. [And] Tobiah
sent letters to put me in fear.