Nehemiah 6

Continued Opposition to Rebuilding

6Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates.H5571H2900H1654H6163H3499H341H8085H1129H2346H6556H3498H1571H5704H6256H5975H1817H81792So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages

in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,H5571H1654H7971H559H3212H3259H3162H3715H1237H207H2803H6213H74513so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"H7971H4397H559H6213H1419H4399H3201H3381H4399H7673H834H7503H33814Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.H7971H702H6471H1697H7725H16975The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with an open letter in his hand,H7971H5571H5288H1697H2549H6471H6605H107H30276and this is what it said: "There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem

tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.H3789H8085H1471H1654H559H3064H2803H4775H3651H1129H2346H1933H4428H16977He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!' "You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."H5975H5030H7121H3389H559H4428H3063H8085H4428H1697H3212H3289H31628I replied, "There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing."H7971H559H1961H1697H1961H559H908H38209They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination

.H3372H559H3027H7503H4399H6213H2388H302710Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight."H935H1004H8098H1121H1806H1121H4105H6113H559H3259H1004H430H8432H1964H5462H1817H1964H935H2026H3915H935H202611But I replied, "Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won't do it!"H559H3644H376H1272H935H1964H2425H93512I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.H5234H430H7971H1696H5016H2900H5571H793613They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.H7936H3372H6213H2398H7451H8034H277814Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.H430H2142H2900H5571H4639H5031H5129H3499H5030H3372

The Builders Complete the Wall

15So on October 2

the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.H2346H7999H6242H2568H435H2572H8147H311716When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.H341H8085H1471H5439H7200H3966H5307H5869H3045H4399H6213H43017During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah.H3117H2715H3063H1980H7235H107H2900H2900H93518For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.H7227H3063H1167H7621H2860H7935H1121H733H1121H3076H3947H1323H4918H1121H129619They kept telling me about Tobiah's good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.H559H2896H6440H3318H1697H2900H7971H107H3372