Now when it was reported
to Sanballat
, Tobiah
, to Geshem
the Arab
and to the rest
of our enemies
that I had rebuilt
the wall
, and that no
breach
remained
in it, aalthough
at that time
I had not set
up the doors
in the gates
,
then Sanballat and Geshem
sent
a message to me, saying
, "Come
, let us meet
together
at 1Chephirim
in the plain
of aOno
." But they were planning
to 2harm
me.
So I sent messengers
to them, saying
, "I am doing
a great
work
and I cannot
come
down
. Why
should the work
stop
while
I leave
it and come
down
to you?"
They sent messages to me four
times
in this
manner
, and I answered
them in the same
way
.
Then Sanballat sent
his servant
to me in the same
manner
a fifth
time
with an open
letter
in his hand
.
In it was written, "It is reported
among the nations
, and 1Gashmu
says
, that ayou and the Jews
are planning
to rebel
; therefore
you are rebuilding
the wall
. And you are to be their king
, according to these
reports
.
"You have also appointed
prophets
to proclaim
in Jerusalem
concerning
1you, `A king
is in Judah
!' And now
it will be reported
to the king
according to these
reports
. So come
now
, let us take
counsel
together
."
Then I sent a message to him saying
, "Such
things
as you are saying
have not been
done
, but you are ainventing
them 1in your own mind
."
For all of them were trying to frighten
us, 1thinking
, " 2They will become
discouraged
with the work
and it will not be done
." But now
, aO God, strengthen
my hands
.
When I entered the house
of Shemaiah
the son
of Delaiah
, son
of Mehetabel
, awho
was 1confined
at home, he said
, "Let us meet
together
in the house
of God
, within
the temple
, and let us close
the doors
of the temple
, for they are coming
to kill
you, and they are coming
to kill
you at night
."
But I said, " aShould a man
like
me flee
? And could one such
as I go
into the temple
1to save
his life
? I will not go
in."
Then I perceived 1that surely
God
had not sent
him, but he uttered
his prophecy
against
me because Tobiah
and Sanballat
had hired
him.
He was hired for this
reason
, athat I might become
frightened
and act
accordingly
and sin
, so that they might have
an evil
report
in order
that they could reproach
me.
aRemember, O my God
, Tobiah
and Sanballat
according to these
works
of theirs, and also
Noadiah
bthe prophetess
and the rest
of the prophets
who
were trying to frighten
me.
So athe wall was completed
on the twenty-fifth
of the month Elul
, in fifty-two
days
.
aWhen all
our enemies
heard
of it, and all
the nations
surrounding
us saw
it, they 1lost
their confidence
; for bthey recognized
that this
work
had been accomplished
2with the help
of our God
.
Also in those
days
many
letters
went
from the nobles
of Judah
to Tobiah
, and Tobiah's
letters came
to them.
For many in Judah
were bound
by oath
to him because
he was the son-in-law
of Shecaniah
the son
of Arah
, and his son
Jehohanan
had married
the daughter
of Meshullam
the son
of Berechiah
.
Moreover, they were speaking
about his good
deeds
in my presence
and reported
my words
to him. Then Tobiah
sent
letters
to frighten
me.