Enemies Try to Lure Nehemiah Away
Study note
With the wall nearly finished, Sanballat and Geshem tried a new tactic. They invited Nehemiah to meet them in the plain of Ono, about twenty miles northwest of Jerusalem. Nehemiah recognized this was a trap to harm him. He refused four separate times, sending back the famous reply that he was doing a great work and could not come down.
1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other foes heard the news. I had rebuilt the wall with no gaps left. But the gate doors were not yet in place. Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this invitation: "Come, let us get together at one of the villages on the plain of Ono." They intended to harm me. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 I sent messengers right back: "I am busy with an important project and cannot come down. Why should the work stop so I can leave it to meet with you?" And I sent messengers unto 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 They sent the same invitation four times. Each time I gave the same answer: no. Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
False Accusations
Study note
When the meeting trick failed, Sanballat sent an open letter accusing Nehemiah of planning to rebel against the Persian king and make himself king. Open letters were meant to be read by everyone and spread rumors. A man named Gashmu, also called Geshem, was supposedly the source of these claims. Nehemiah firmly denied all the charges and prayed for God to strengthen his hands.
5 On the fifth attempt, Sanballat sent his servant carrying an unsealed letter. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
6 It read: "Rumors are spreading among the nations -- and Gashmu confirms it -- that you and the Jews are plotting a revolt. That is supposedly why you are building the wall. Word is, you plan to make yourself king." Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
7 "They say you have even appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem: 'Judah has a king!' The king is going to hear about this. Come talk it over with us." And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee 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 I responded, "Nothing you are claiming is true. You made it all up." Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9 They were trying to scare us into quitting, thinking, "They will lose their nerve and never finish the work." Instead, I prayed, "God, give me strength." For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
A False Prophet's Trap
Study note
Nehemiah's enemies hired a man named Shemaiah to pretend to have a message from God. Shemaiah told Nehemiah to hide inside the temple to save his life from assassins. But Nehemiah saw through this trick. As a layman, entering the inner temple would be a sin. If Nehemiah ran and hid, it would also make him look like a coward and ruin his reputation as a leader.
10 I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah (grandson of Mehetabeel), who had shut himself up at home. He told me, "Let us go hide inside the temple. We should close the temple doors because assassins are coming for you tonight." Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, 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 thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
11 I answered, "A man in my position does not run and hide. Should someone like me sneak into the temple to save his own skin? Certainly not." And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 I could tell that God had not sent him. He had made up this so-called prophecy because Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him off. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 They hired him to terrify me into sinning by hiding in the temple. That would give them ammunition to ruin my reputation and disgrace me. Therefore 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 God, remember what Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember the prophetess Noadiah and all the other prophets who tried to scare me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
The Wall is Completed
Study note
The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, around September or October. The entire project took only fifty-two days, an amazing accomplishment. Even the enemies recognized that this work was done with God's help. However, the chapter ends with a warning that Tobiah still had strong connections among the leaders of Judah through marriage alliances. This would cause problems later.
15 The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul. The whole project took fifty-two days. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 When all our enemies heard about it and the surrounding nations saw the finished wall, they were completely deflated. They realized this project had been accomplished with God's help. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
17 Throughout those days, the nobles of Judah had been exchanging letters with Tobiah back and forth. Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
18 Many in Judah were allies of Tobiah. He was the son-in-law of Shechaniah son of Arah. His son Johanan had wed the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19 They kept praising Tobiah to my face and reporting everything I said back to him. Meanwhile, Tobiah kept sending letters trying to scare me. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.