Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah
, and Geshem
the Arabian
, and the rest
of our enemies
, heard
that I had builded
the wall
, and that there was no breach
left
therein; (though
at that time
I had not set up
the doors
upon the gates
;)
That Sanballat and Geshem
sent
unto me, saying
, Come
, let us meet
together
in some one of the villages
in the plain
of Ono
. But they thought
to do
me mischief
.
And I sent messengers
unto them, saying
, I am doing
a great
work
, so that I cannot
come down
: why should the work
cease
, whilst
I leave
it, and come down
to you?
Yet they sent unto me four
times
after this sort
; and I answered
them after the same manner
.
Then sent Sanballat
his servant
unto me in like manner
the fifth
time
with an open
letter
in his hand
;
Wherein was written, It is reported
among the heathen
, and Gashmu
saith
it, that thou and the Jews
think
to rebel
: for which cause
thou buildest
the wall
, that thou mayest be
their king
, according to these words
.
And thou hast also appointed prophets
to preach
of thee at Jerusalem
, saying
, There is a king
in Judah
: and now shall it be reported
to the king
according to these words
. Come
now therefore, and let us take counsel
together
.
Then I sent unto him, saying
, There are
no such things
done
as thou sayest
, but thou feignest
them out of thine own heart
.
For they all made us afraid, saying
, Their hands
shall be weakened
from the work
, that it be not done
. Now therefore, O God , strengthen
my hands
.
Afterward I came unto the house
of Shemaiah
the son
of Delaiah
the son
of Mehetabeel
, who was shut up
; and 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 will come
to slay
thee; yea, in the night
will they come
to slay
thee.
And 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
.
And, lo, I perceived that God
had not sent
him; but that he pronounced
this prophecy
against me: for Tobiah
and Sanballat
had hired
him.
Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid
, and do so
, and sin
, and that they might have matter for an evil
report
, that they might reproach
me.
My God, think
thou upon Tobiah
and Sanballat
according to these their works
, and on the prophetess
Noadiah
, and the rest
of the prophets
, that would have put me in fear
.
So the wall was finished
in the twenty
and fifth
day of the month Elul
, in fifty
and two
days
.
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard
thereof , and all the heathen
that were about us
saw
these things , they were much
cast down
in their own eyes
: for they perceived
that this work
was wrought
of our God
.
Moreover in those days the nobles
of Judah
sent
many
letters
unto Tobiah
, and the letters of Tobiah
came
unto them.
For there were many in Judah
sworn
unto him, because he was the son in law
of Shechaniah
the son
of Arah
; and his son
Johanan
had taken
the daughter
of Meshullam
the son
of Berechiah
.
Also they reported his good deeds
before
me, and uttered
my words
to him. And Tobiah
sent
letters
to put me in fear
.