Sanballat and Tobiah heard about what was happening. Sanballat was a Horonite. Tobiah was an official from Ammon. They were very upset that someone had come to help the Israelites.

和伦人参巴拉，并为奴的亚扪人多比雅，听见有人来为以色列人求好处，就甚恼怒。

和伦人参巴拉和作臣仆的亚扪人多比雅，听见有人来为以色列人争取利益，就很恼怒。

和伦人参巴拉和作臣仆的亚扪人多比雅，听见有人来为以色列人争取利益，就很恼怒。

和伦人参巴拉和官长亚扪人多比雅听到有人来帮以色列人谋求好处，非常不悦。

和伦人参巴拉和作臣仆的亚扪人多比雅听见有人来到，要为以色列求利益，他们就非常恼怒。

和倫人參巴拉，並為奴的亞捫人多比雅，聽見有人來為以色列人求好處，就甚惱怒。

和倫人參巴拉和作臣僕的亞捫人多比雅，聽見有人來為以色列人爭取利益，就很惱怒。

和倫人參巴拉和作臣僕的亞捫人多比雅，聽見有人來為以色列人爭取利益，就很惱怒。

和倫人參巴拉和官長亞捫人多比雅聽到有人來幫以色列人謀求好處，非常不悅。

和倫人參巴拉和作臣僕的亞捫人多比雅聽見有人來到，要為以色列求利益，他們就非常惱怒。

和倫人參巴拉和為奴的亞捫人多比雅聽見了這事，就大大不高興有人來為以色列人謀求福利。

和倫人參巴拉、亞捫人臣僕多比雅、聞有人至、欲裨益以色列族、則憂甚、

和倫人撒八拉、亞捫人曾為僕人之多比、聞有人撫綏以色列族、則懷殷憂。

和倫人參巴拉、亞捫人曾為奴者多比雅、聞有人來、欲助以色列人、使之復興、則甚不悅、

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.

And when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.

When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard[ of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.

When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

But Sanballat, the Horonite, heard about it. So did Tobiah, the official from Ammon. Geshem, the Arab, heard about it too. All of them laughed at us. They made fun of us.“ What do you think you are doing?” they asked.“ Are you turning against the king?”

But Sanballat and Tobiah heard that Jerusalem’s walls continued to be repaired. The Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard about it too. They heard that the gaps in the wall were being filled in. So they were very angry.

Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the Arab, heard about what I had done. So did the rest of our enemies. All of them heard I had rebuilt the wall. In fact, they heard there weren’t any gaps left in it. But up to that time I hadn’t put up the gates at the main entrances to the city.

The Lord and King says,“ You clapped your hands. You stamped your feet. Deep down inside, you hated the land of Israel. You were glad because of what happened to it.So I will reach out my powerful hand against you. I will give you and everything you have to the nations. I will bring you to an end among the nations. I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”The Lord and King says,“ Moab and Edom said,‘ Look! Judah has become like all the other nations.’

You have seen and heard what this fellow Paul is doing. He has talked to large numbers of people here in Ephesus. Almost everywhere in Asia Minor he has led people away from our gods. He says that the gods made by human hands are not gods at all.Our work is in danger of losing its good name. People’s faith in the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be weakened. Now she is worshiped all over Asia Minor and the whole world. But soon she will be robbed of her greatness.”

Anger is mean, and great anger overpowers you. But who can face jealousy?

Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms in the house of our God. He had worked closely with Tobiah.

Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall. So he became very angry and upset. He made fun of the Jews.He spoke to his friends and the army of Samaria. He said,“ What are those Jews trying to do? Can they make their city wall like new again? Will they offer sacrifices? Can they finish everything in a single day? The stones from their city wall and buildings are piled up like trash. And everything has been badly burned. Can they use those stones to rebuild everything again?”Tobiah from Ammon was at Sanballat’s side. He said,“ What are they building? They’re putting up a stone wall. But suppose a fox climbs on top of it. Even that will break it down!”

When the nations see those wonders, they will be put to shame. All their power will be taken away from them. They will be so amazed that they won’t be able to speak or hear.They’ll be forced to eat dust like a snake. They’ll be like creatures that have to crawl on the ground. They’ll come out of their dens trembling with fear. They’ll show respect for the Lord our God. They will also have respect for his people.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Say,“ May those who love you be secure.May there be peace inside your walls. May your people be kept safe.”I’m concerned for my family and friends. So I say to Jerusalem,“ May you enjoy peace.”I’m concerned about the house of the Lord our God. So I pray that things will go well with Jerusalem.

The Moabites were terrified because there were so many Israelites. In fact, the Moabites were filled with panic because of the Israelites.The Moabites spoke to the elders of Midian. They said,“ This huge mob is going to destroy everything around us. They’ll lick it up as an ox licks up all the grass in the fields.” Balak, the son of Zippor, was the king of Moab at that time.

“ The sound of their cry rises from Heshbon. It rises as far as Elealeh and Jahaz. It rises from Zoar. It goes all the way to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the waters at Nimrim are dried up.

Then the nations around Judah tried to make its people lose hope. They wanted to make them afraid to go on building.So those nations paid some of the Jewish officials to work against the people of Judah. They wanted their plans to fail. They did it during the whole time Cyrus was king of Persia. They kept doing it until Darius became king.The enemies of the Jews brought charges against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. It happened when Xerxes began to rule over Persia.Then Artaxerxes became king of Persia. During his rule, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and their friends wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in the Aramaic language. And it used the Aramaic alphabet.Rehum and Shimshai also wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes. Rehum was the commanding officer. Shimshai was the secretary. Their letter was against the people of Jerusalem. It said,We, Rehum and Shimshai, are writing this letter. Rehum is the commanding officer. Shimshai is the secretary. Our friends join us in writing. They include the judges, officials and managers in charge of the people from Persia, Uruk and Babylon. They are also over the Elamites from Susa.And they are over those who were forced to leave their countries. The great King Ashurbanipal, who is worthy of honor, forced them to leave. He moved them to the city of Samaria. He also moved them to other places west of the Euphrates River.Here is a copy of the letter sent to Artaxerxes. We are sending this letter to you, King Artaxerxes. It is from your servants who live west of the Euphrates River.We want you to know about the people who left you and have come up to us. They have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that evil city. It has caused trouble for a long time. Those people are making its walls like new again. They are repairing the foundations.Here is something else we want you to know. Suppose this city is rebuilt. And suppose its walls are made like new again. Then no more taxes, gifts or fees will be collected. And sooner or later there will be less money for you.We owe a lot to you. We don’t want to see dishonor brought on you. So we’re sending this letter to tell you what is going on.Then you can have a search made in the official records. Have someone check the records of the kings who ruled before you. If you do, you will find out that Jerusalem is an evil city. It causes trouble for kings and countries. For a long time the city has refused to let anyone rule over it. That’s why it was destroyed.We want you to know that this city shouldn’t be rebuilt. Its walls shouldn’t be made like new again. If that happens, you won’t have anything left west of the Euphrates River.The king replied, I am writing this letter to Rehum, the commanding officer. I am also writing it to Shimshai the secretary. And I am writing it to your friends living in Samaria and in other places west of the Euphrates River. I give you my greetings.The letter you sent us has been read to me. It has been explained to me in my language.I gave an order. I had a search made. Here is what we found out. Jerusalem has a long history of turning against the kings of the countries that have ruled over it. It has refused to remain under their control. It is always stirring up trouble.Jerusalem has had powerful kings. Some of them ruled over everything west of the Euphrates. Taxes, gifts and fees were paid to them.So give an order to those men. Make them stop their work. Then the city won’t be rebuilt until I give the order.Pay careful attention to this matter. Why should we let this danger grow? That would not be in our best interests.The copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary. It was also read to their friends. Right away they went to the Jews in Jerusalem. They forced them to stop their work.

The first is a servant who becomes a king. The second is a foolish and ungodly person who gets plenty to eat.

The people go up the hill to Luhith. They are weeping bitterly as they go. Loud cries are heard on the road down to Horonaim. People cry out because the town is being destroyed.

I’ve seen slaves on horseback. I’ve also seen princes who were forced to walk as if they were slaves.

Evil people will see it and be upset. They will grind their teeth and become weaker and weaker. What evil people long to do can’t succeed.

We’ve sinned against the Lord. So he is angry with us. His anger will continue until he takes up our case. Then he’ll do what is right for us. He’ll bring us out into the light. Then we’ll see him save us.Our enemies will see it too. And they will be put to shame. After all, they said to us,‘ Where is the Lord your God?’ But we will see them destroyed. Soon they will be stomped on like mud in the streets.”

My heart cries out over Moab. Some who run away get as far as Zoar. Others run all the way to Eglath Shelishiyah. Others go up the hill to Luhith. They are weeping as they go. Still others travel the road to Horonaim. They sing a song of sadness because their town is being destroyed.

They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead.

At that time the Book of Moses was read out loud. All the people heard it. It was written there that no Ammonite or Moabite could ever become a member of God’s community.

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were bewildered. They wondered what would happen next.