June 15, 2023

Nehemiah 6:1-19 (HCSB)
Attempts to Discourage the Builders
6 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies  heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it —though at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates — 2 Sanballat and Geshem  sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of  the Ono Valley.”  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 cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply. 5 Sanballat  sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations—and Geshem   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 7 and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: “There is a king in Judah.”  These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together. 8 Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”  9 For they were all trying to intimidate  us, saying, “They will become discouraged  in the work,  and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen me.  Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah 10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted 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. They are coming to kill you tonight! 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live?  I will not go.” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat  had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated,  do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me. 14 My God, remember  Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess  and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me. The Wall Completed 15 The wall was completed  in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.  16 When all our enemies  heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated  and lost their confidence,  for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God. 17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,  and Tobiah’s letters came 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 These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate  me.

Casey Morton It seems that Sanballat is still desiring to make Nehemiah’s efforts fail. He seems to conclude, when all else fails destroy the head. There are 3 attempts to destroy, discredit, and defame Nehemiah in Chapter 6. First, when word that Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall spread, Sanballat sent him an invitation to attend a meeting or “summit” at Ono, about 25 miles from Jerusalem. Nehemiah, understanding this was probably an effort to assasinate or kidnap him, respectfully declines (this particular request was sent FOUR times), saying he was doing great work and could not come down. Next, a fifth message was sent stating rumors that the real reason for rebuilding the wall was so the Jews could rebel and Nehemiah could put himself in position to become king of Judah. Again, he discredited this rumor. Lastly, a prophet was “hired” to inform Nehemiah that there was a plot to assassinate him, and he should take refuge in the Temple, (the Holy Place). Nehemiah, knowing God's word (Numbers 18:7; an unauthorized person coming near the sanctuary will be put to death) knew this too, was a ploy. Despite all of the opposition, the wall was finished in just 52 days!! There are 52 weeks in a year. Think about what contribution you (and speaking to myself as well) have made to God’s work in the last 52 weeks.