微读圣经

Attempts to Discourage the Builders

1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies6:1 Neh 2:10,19 heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it6:1 Neh 4:6–7 — though at that time I had not installed the doors in the city gates6:1 Neh 3:1 —

2Sanballat and Geshem6:2 Neh 2:10 sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of6:2 Or together at Kephirim in the Ono Valley.”6:2 1Ch 8:12 They were planning to harm me.

3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

4Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply.

5Sanballat6:5 Neh 2:10 sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand.

6In it was written:

It is reported among the nations — and Geshem6:6 Lit Gashmu6:6 Neh 2:19 agrees — that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king

7and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf, “There is a king in Judah.”6:7 Zch 9:9 These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together.

8Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”6:8 Jb 13:4; Ps 52:2

9For they were all trying to intimidate6:9 Ezr 3:3 us, saying, “They will drop their hands from6:9 Or will give up on the work,6:9 Ezr 4:4 and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God, strengthen my hands.6:9 Neh 5:19; 13:22; Ps 138:3

Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah

10I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said:

Let’s meet at the house of God,

inside the temple.

Let’s shut the temple doors

because they’re coming to kill you.

They’re coming to kill you tonight!6:10 Or by night

11But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live?6:10–11 Nm 18:7 I will not go.”

12I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat6:12 Neh 2:10; 6:1 had hired him.

13He was hired, so that I would be intimidated,6:13 Ezr 3:3 do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.

14My God, remember6:14 Neh 13:29 Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah6:14 Rv 2:20 and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

The Wall Completed

15The wall was completed6:15 Neh 4:1,7; 6:1 in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.6:15 Ezr 6:15

16When all our enemies6:16 Neh 2:10; 6:1 heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated6:16 Ezr 3:3 and lost their confidence,6:16 Lit and fell greatly in their eyes for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.6:16 Ex 14:25

17During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,6:17 Neh 6:1; 13:4–5,7–8 and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

18For many in Judah were bound by oath6:18 Ezr 10:5 to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam6:18 Neh 3:4,30 son of Berechiah.

19These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate6:19 Neh 6:9,13 me.

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