“Dear Nehemiah, let’s talk”
1Our enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem—heard we finished the wall. We hadn’t hung the gates yet, but the wall repairs were done. 2Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “We should talk. Let’s meet at the town of Kephirim [1] in Ono Valley.” I could see that was a trap. 3I sent messengers with a reply: “This is a big job I’m working on. I can’t come down there to meet with you now. Why should I?”Accused of insurrection
4They tried to lure me into a meeting four times. Every time, I gave them the same answer: No. 5Their fifth message was different. Sanballat sent one of his men with an unsealed letter.6This is what he wrote: “Your neighboring nations are getting word that you and the Jews are planning a rebellion. Geshem has heard about it, too. That’s why you’re building this wall. Word is that you want to be their king. 7You’ve planted prophets in Jerusalem who are saying, ‘There’s a king in Judah.’ And they’re saying that king is you. This news is going to reach the king of Persia. So, you better get over here and meet with us.” [2]
8I sent this reply: “Nothing you said is accurate. You’re making it up.” 9They wanted to scare us into stopping our work. All they managed to do was to give us a fresh burst of energy, a second wind.
Prophet paid to trap Nehemiah
10Later, I went to see Shemaiah [3] at his house. He’s the son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetable. He was confined to his home. He told me, “Let’s go to the Temple. We’ll close the doors and hide inside the sanctuary. These men are coming to kill you. And they’re coming tonight.”11I told him, “Do you really think a person in my position should run for his life and hide inside the Temple, of all places? I won’t do it.” 12Then it dawned on me that God didn’t give this man a message. Tobiah and Sanballat did. They bought him off. 13They hired him to scare me into breaking Jewish law by going inside the Temple. [4] Once I do that, my name is garbage. [5]
14I asked God, “Please remember what these people tried to do to me. Don’t forget Tobiah and Sanballat. And remember the prophet woman, Noadiah, [6] and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.”
Done in 52 days
15We finished the wall by the end of summer, on the 25th day of the month of Elul. [7] It took our team of builders 52 days. 16This news terrified our enemies. Their self-confidence disappeared because they recognized that God himself was helping us.Jewish leaders against Nehemiah
17During the two months we worked on the walls, some Jewish leaders were exchanging messages with Tobiah. 18Many Jews in town were loyal to him. He had solid Jewish connections. He and his son were both married to Jewish women. His wife’s father was Shecaniah son of Arah. [8] And his son’s wife was daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.19Jewish leaders in that pen pal club with Tobiah constantly talked him up when they were around me. They told me about the good things he did. Then they reported back to Tobiah about how I reacted. Tobiah’s letters were all about trying to frighten me.
