Nehemiah 6
6
1 NOW WHEN Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they intended to do me harm.
3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to you?
4 They sent to me four times this way, and I answered them as before.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me again the fifth time with an open letter.
6 In it was written: It is reported among the neighboring nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore you are building the wall, that you may be their king, according to the report.
7 Also you have set up prophets to announce concerning you in Jerusalem, There is a king in Judah. And now this will be reported to the [Persian] king. So, come now and let us take counsel together.
8 I replied to him, No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own heart and mind.
9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, Their hands will be so weak that the work will not be done. But now strengthen my hands!
10 I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up. 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 are coming to kill you–at night they are coming to kill you.
11 But I said, Should such a man as I flee? And what man such as I could go into the temple [where only the priests are allowed to go] and yet live? I will not go in.
12 And behold, I saw that God had not sent him, but he made this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 He was hired that I should be made afraid and do as he said and sin, that they might have matter for an evil report with which to taunt and reproach me.
14 My God, think on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us feared and fell far in their own esteem, for they saw 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 many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.
19 Also they spoke of [Tobiah's] good deeds before me and told him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.
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Nehemiah 6: AMPC
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
2 Esdras (Nehemias) 6
6
1And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates):
2Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and let us make a league together in the villages, in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come and go down to you.
4And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I answered them after the same manner.
5And Sanaballat sent his servant to me the fifth time according to the former word; and he had a letter in his hand written in this manner:
6It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; and therefore thou buildest the wall and hast a mind to set thyself king over them. For which end
7Thou hast also set up prophets, to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things. Therefore come now, that we may take counsel together.
8And I sent to them, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart.
9For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more.
10And I went into the house of Samaia the son of Delaia, the son of Metabeel, privately. And he said: Let us consult together in the house of God in the midst of the temple. And let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill thee, and in the night they will come to slay thee.
11And 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.
12And I understood that God had not sent him: but that he had spoken to me as if he had been prophesying; and Tobias, and Sanaballat had hired him.
13For he had taken money, that I being afraid should do this thing and sin; and they might have some evil to upbraid me withal.
14Remember me, O Lord, for Tobias and Sanaballat, according to their works of this kind: and Noadias the prophet, and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.
15But the wall was finished the five and twentieth day of the month of Elul, in two and fifty days.
16And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard of it, that all nations which were round about us were afraid: and were cast down within themselves: for they perceived that this work was the work of God.
17Moreover in those days many letters were sent by the principal men of the Jews to Tobias, and from Tobias there came letters to them.
18For there were many in Judea sworn to him: because he was the son-in-law of Sechenias the son of Area, and Johanan his son had taken to wife the daughter of Mosollam the son of Barachias.
19And they praised him also before me, and they related my words to him. And Tobias sent letters to put me in fear.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.