Nehemiahchapter 6
19 verses · BSBNehemiah book hub →
A.Come meet me in Ono: I am doing a great work and cannot come downvv. 1-9
1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter 6 that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, 7 and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.” 8 Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” 9 For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
B.A hired prophet who would have made him sin by hidingvv. 10-14
10 Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you!” 11 But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me. 14 O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.
C.Fifty-two days, and the nations lose their confidencevv. 15-19
15 So the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God. 17 Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came back to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. 19 Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
Chapter summary
Four times Sanballat and Geshem summon him to the plain of Ono, and four times comes the same answer: 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease?' The fifth message arrives as an open letter charging rebellion and a plot to be crowned king; Nehemiah replies that they invent it out of their own heart, and prays, 'Now therefore, O God, strengthen thou my hands.' A hired prophet urges him to hide inside the temple: 'Should such a man as I flee?… I will not go in.' The wall was finished in fifty and two days, and the nations 'perceived that this work was wrought of our God.'
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Chapter summary
Four times Sanballat and Geshem summon him to the plain of Ono, and four times comes the same answer: 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease?' The fifth message arrives as an open letter charging rebellion and a plot to be crowned king; Nehemiah replies that they invent it out of their own heart, and prays, 'Now therefore, O God, strengthen thou my hands.' A hired prophet urges him to hide inside the temple: 'Should such a man as I flee?… I will not go in.' The wall was finished in fifty and two days, and the nations 'perceived that this work was wrought of our God.'
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Four times Sanballat and Geshem summon him to the plain of Ono, and four times comes the same answer: 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease?' The fifth message arrives as an open letter charging rebellion and a plot to be crowned king; Nehemiah replies that they invent it out of their own heart, and prays, 'Now therefore, O God, strengthen thou my hands.' A hired prophet urges him to hide inside the temple: 'Should such a man as I flee?… I will not go in.' The wall was finished in fifty and two days, and the nations 'perceived that this work was wrought of our God.'
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.
Context
History · Nehemiah — Nehemiah overview
- A. 1–9 Come meet me in Ono: I am doing a great work and cannot come down
- B. 10–14 A hired prophet who would have made him sin by hiding
- C. 15–19 Fifty-two days, and the nations lose their confidence
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
Nehemiah 22 verses
- Nehemiah 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
- Nehemiah 2:19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
- Read Nehemiah 2 →
Nehemiah 42 verses
- Nehemiah 4:1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
- Nehemiah 4:7When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
- Read Nehemiah 4 →
Nehemiah 132 verses
- Nehemiah 13:28Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me.
- Nehemiah 13:29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
- Read Nehemiah 13 →
Nehemiah 32 verses
- Nehemiah 3:4Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs; and next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs as well.
- Nehemiah 3:5Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
- Read Nehemiah 3 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
Psalms 371 verse
- Psalms 37:12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
- Read Psalms 37 →
1 Chronicles 81 verse
- 1 Chronicles 8:12The sons of Elpaal:
- Read 1 Chronicles 8 →
Nehemiah 111 verse
- Nehemiah 11:35Lod, and Ono; and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.
- Read Nehemiah 11 →
Matthew 101 verse
- Matthew 10:16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Read Matthew 10 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.