Nehemiah 6:18

Nehemiah 6:18 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

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.

King James Version KJV

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.

American Standard Version ASV

For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.

Bible in Basic English BBE

For in Judah there were a number of people who had made an agreement by oath with him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken as his wife the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah.

Free Bible Version FBV

because many people in Judah had sworn an oath of loyalty to him as he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

For there were many in Iudah, that were sworne vnto him: for he was the sonne in lawe of Shechaniah, the sonne of Arah: and his sonne Iehonathan had the daughter of Meshullam, the sonne of Berechiah.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

for many in Judah are sworn to him, for he [is] son-in-law to Shechaniah son of Arah, and Jehohanan his son hath taken the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah;

World English Bible WEB

For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

For there were many in Judah sworn to 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.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

For there were many in Judea sworn to him, because he was the son in law of Sechenias the son of Area, and Johanan his son had taken to wife the daughter of Mosollam the son of Barachias.

Translation for Translators T4T

Many people in Judea were closely associated with Tobiah, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah. Furthermore, Tobiah’s son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berekiah.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Nehemiah 6:18

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Nehemiah 6:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB כִּי רַבִּ֣ים בִּֽ/יהוּדָ֗ה בַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁבוּעָה֙ ל֔/וֹ כִּי חָתָ֥ן ה֖וּא לִ/שְׁכַנְיָ֣ה בֶן אָרַ֑ח וִֽ/יהוֹחָנָ֣ן בְּנ֔/וֹ לָקַ֕ח אֶת בַּת מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם בֶּ֥ן בֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה

כִּי kîy H3588 for Conj

רַבִּ֣ים rab H7227 many Adj

בִּֽ/יהוּדָ֗ה Yᵉhûwdâh H3063 Judah Prep | N-proper

בַּעֲלֵ֤י baʻal H1167 master N-mp

שְׁבוּעָה֙ shᵉbûwʻâh H7621 oath N-fs

ל֔/וֹ Prep | Suff

כִּי kîy H3588 for Conj

חָתָ֥ן châthân H2860 son-in-law N-ms

ה֖וּא hûwʼ H1931 he/she/it Pron

לִ/שְׁכַנְיָ֣ה Shᵉkanyâh H7935 Shecaniah Prep | N-proper

בֶן bên H1121 son N-ms

אָרַ֑ח ʼÂrach H733 Arah N-proper

וִֽ/יהוֹחָנָ֣ן Yᵉhôwchânân H3076 Jehohanan Conj | N-proper

בְּנ֔/וֹ bên H1121 son N-ms | Suff

לָקַ֕ח lâqach H3947 to take V-Qal-Perf-3ms

אֶת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM

בַּת bath H1323 Bath (Shua) N-fs

מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם Mᵉshullâm H4918 Meshullam N-proper

בֶּ֥ן bên H1121 son N-ms

בֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה Berekyâh H1296 Berechiah N-proper

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Nehemiah 6:18

כִּי kîy H3588 "for" Conj

A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.

Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.

רַבִּ֣ים rab H7227 "many" Adj

This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.

Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly

Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.

בִּֽ/יהוּדָ֗ה Yᵉhûwdâh H3063 "Judah" Prep | N-proper

Judah is the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. It is also the name of the region where the tribe lived. The name means 'praised' and is first mentioned in Genesis.

Definition: § Judah = "praised" the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob

Usage: Occurs in 754 OT verses. KJV: Judah. See also: Genesis 29:35; 1 Samuel 23:3; 2 Kings 14:13.

בַּעֲלֵ֤י baʻal H1167 "master" N-mp

Means master or owner, often referring to a husband or leader, as seen in the book of Genesis and Exodus.

Definition: : master/leader 1) owner, husband, lord 1a) owner 1b) a husband 1c) citizens, inhabitants 1d) rulers, lords 1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)

Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. See also: Genesis 14:13; 1 Samuel 23:11; Proverbs 1:17.

שְׁבוּעָה֙ shᵉbûwʻâh H7621 "oath" N-fs

This word means an oath or curse, like a promise or vow. In the Bible, it appears in Numbers 5:21 and Deuteronomy 29:12, referring to God's oath. The KJV translates it as 'oath' or 'curse'.

Definition: 1) oath, curse 1a) oath 1a1) attesting of innocence 1a2) curse 1b) oath (of Jehovah)

Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: curse, oath, [idiom] sworn. See also: Genesis 24:8; 2 Samuel 21:7; Psalms 105:9.

ל֔/וֹ "" Prep | Suff

כִּי kîy H3588 "for" Conj

חָתָ֥ן châthân H2860 "son-in-law" N-ms

This Hebrew word refers to a son-in-law or bridegroom, describing a man related by marriage. It's used to describe a husband or a man about to be married, like a bridegroom.

Definition: son-in-law, daughter's husband, bridegroom, husband

Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: bridegroom, husband, son in law. See also: Genesis 19:12; Nehemiah 6:18; Psalms 19:6.

ה֖וּא hûwʼ H1931 "he/she/it" Pron

This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.

Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.

לִ/שְׁכַנְיָ֣ה Shᵉkanyâh H7935 "Shecaniah" Prep | N-proper

Shecaniah was a common name in the Bible, meaning 'dweller with God'. Several men with this name appear in books like Nehemiah and Ezra, including a descendant of Zerubbabel who returned from exile.

Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.10.4; also called Shecaniah (NIV: Shekaniah) at Neh.12.3; Another name of she.van.yah (שְׁבַנְיָהוּ "Shebaniah" H7645I) § Shecaniah or Shechaniah = "dweller with Jehovah" 1) a descendant of Zerubbabel whose descendants returned from exile with Ezra 2) son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam and one who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 3) father of Shemaiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah 4) son of Arah, father-in-law of Tobiah who opposed Nehemiah 5) a priest who returned from exile with Zerubbabel 6) a priest in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah

Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: Shecaniah, Shechaniah. See also: 1 Chronicles 3:21; Ezra 8:5; Nehemiah 12:3.

בֶן bên H1121 "son" N-ms

In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.

Definition: : child/son

Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.

אָרַ֑ח ʼÂrach H733 "Arah" N-proper

Arah is a personal name in the Bible, referring to three different Israelites. One Arah was a man who lived during the time of exile and return, mentioned in Nehemiah 6:18. The name means traveller.

Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.6.18; father of: Shecaniah (H7935M) § Arah = "traveller" 1) a man of Asher 2) the prominent head of a family of returning exiles 3) another returned exile

Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: Arah. See also: 1 Chronicles 7:39; Nehemiah 6:18; Nehemiah 7:10.

וִֽ/יהוֹחָנָ֣ן Yᵉhôwchânân H3076 "Jehohanan" Conj | N-proper

Jehohanan means Jehovah has graced, and was the name of eight Israelites, including a priest and a high priest, in the time of Exile and Return. He is mentioned in Nehemiah 12:42.

Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.42 § Jehohanan = "Jehovah has graced" 1) a priest during the high priesthood of Joiakim who returned with Zerubbabel 2) a high priest in the time of Ezra 3) a Levite priest who took part in the dedication of the wall in the time of Nehemiah 4) son of Tobiah 5) a Korhite Levite and one of the doorkeepers to the tabernacle in the time of David 6) a captain of Judah under king Jehoshaphat 7) an Ephraimite 8) an Israelite with a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 9) a Jewish captain after the fall of Jerusalem 10) the eldest son of king Josiah 11) a post-exilic prince of the line of David 12) father of Azariah, priest in Solomon's time 13) a Benjamite, one of David's mighty warriors 14) a Gadite, one of David's mighty warriors 15) a returning exile

Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: Jehohanan, Johanan. Compare H3110 (יוֹחָנָן). See also: 1 Chronicles 12:5; 2 Chronicles 28:12; Nehemiah 12:42.

בְּנ֔/וֹ bên H1121 "son" N-ms | Suff

Definition: : child/son

לָקַ֕ח lâqach H3947 "to take" V-Qal-Perf-3ms

This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.

Definition: : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed 1b3) to be taken, brought unto 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be taken from or out of 1c2) to be stolen from 1c3) to be taken captive 1c4) to be taken away, be removed 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto 1d2) to be taken out of 1d3) to be taken away 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to take hold of oneself 1e2) to flash about (of lightning)

Usage: Occurs in 909 OT verses. KJV: accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. See also: Genesis 2:15; Genesis 34:17; Exodus 30:23.

אֶת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM

In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.

Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.

בַּת bath H1323 "Bath (Shua)" N-fs

The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.

Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')

Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.

מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם Mᵉshullâm H4918 "Meshullam" N-proper

Meshullam was a common name in the Bible, given to 17 different Israelites, including a grandfather of a scribe and a son of Zerubbabel. The name means friend and is mentioned in books like Nehemiah and Chronicles.

Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.25 § Meshullam = "friend" 1) grandfather of Shaphan, the scribe 2) son of Zerubbabel 3) a Benjamite of the sons of Elpaal 4) a Benjamite, father of Sallu 5) a Benjamite who lived at Jerusalem after the captivity 6) a Benjamite 6a) perhaps the same as 3 or 4 7) a Gadite in the reign of king Jotham of Judah 8) son of Berechiah who assisted in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem 9) son of Besodeiah who assisted Jehoiada the son of Paseah in restoring the old gate of Jerusalem 10) a chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah 11) father of Hilkiah and high priest probably in the reign of king Amon of Judah 11a) perhaps the same as 'Shallum' 12) a priest, son of Meshillemith or Meshillemoth, son of Immer, and ancestor of Maasiai or Amashai 13) a priest or family of priests who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah 14) a priest, head of the family of Ginnethon and representative of the house of Ezra in the days of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua 15) a priest, one of the princes of Judah at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem 16) a Kohathite or family of Kohathite Levites in the reign of Josiah 17) a Levite, one of the heads sent to Iddo to gather the Levites to join the caravan about to return to Jerusalem; a chief man who assisted Ezra in abolishing the marriages which some of the people had made with foreign wives 18) ancestor of a family of porters or Levites in days of Nehemiah 19) a descendant of Bani who had a foreign wife and put her away 20) one of the men who stood at the left hand of Ezra when he read the law to the people 20a) maybe the same as 17

Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: Meshullam. See also: 2 Kings 22:3; Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 12:33.

בֶּ֥ן bên H1121 "son" N-ms

Definition: : child/son

בֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה Berekyâh H1296 "Berechiah" N-proper

Berechiah is a name meaning 'Jehovah blesses', given to several Israelites, including a father of the prophet Zechariah and a son of Zerubbabel. These men played important roles in Jewish history.

Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Zec.1.1; son of: Iddo (H5714J); father of: Zechariah (H2148B) § Berachiah or Berechiah = "Jehovah blesses" 1) a son of Zerubbabel 2) a Levite who returned for the exile 3) father of Meshullam, one of Nehemiah's chiefs who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem 4) father of Zechariah 5) a Gershonite Levite, the father of Asaph, the singer, doorkeeper of the ark 6) an Ephraimite chief in the time of Ahaz

Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: Berachiah, Berechiah. See also: 1 Chronicles 3:20; 2 Chronicles 28:12; Zechariah 1:7.

Study Notes — Nehemiah 6:18

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Nehemiah 6:18 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Nehemiah 6:18
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18
Trapp's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18
Ellicott's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18
Cambridge Bible on Nehemiah 6:18
Barnes' Notes on Nehemiah 6:18
Whedon's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18
Sermons on Nehemiah 6:18

Context — Completion of the Wall

16When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God. 17Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them.

18For 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.

19Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Ezra 2:5	the descendants of Arah, 775;
2	Nehemiah 7:10	the descendants of Arah, 652;
3	Nehemiah 3:4	Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs; and next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs as well.
4	Nehemiah 3:30	Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters.

Nehemiah 6:18 Summary

This verse tells us that many people in Judah had promised to support Tobiah because of his family connections. Tobiah was related to some important people, and this made him influential. This shows us that who we are connected to can have a big impact on our lives, just like it did for Tobiah. As seen in Proverbs 13:20, the company we keep and the relationships we have can either help or hurt us, so it's essential to choose our relationships wisely and prioritize our relationship with God, as described in Matthew 22:37-38.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were many in Judah bound by oath to Tobiah?

Many in Judah were bound by oath to Tobiah because of his family connections, as he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah, as seen in Nehemiah 6:18. This highlights the importance of family ties in ancient Jewish culture, similar to what is seen in Genesis 29:26-30.

What does it mean to be bound by oath?

To be bound by oath means to be under a sworn obligation or promise, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 23:21-23. In this context, many in Judah had sworn allegiance or loyalty to Tobiah, likely due to his family connections and influence.

How does this verse relate to the rest of Nehemiah 6?

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Nehemiah 6, where Nehemiah is facing opposition from Tobiah and other enemies. As seen in Nehemiah 6:16, the completion of the wall had disheartened their enemies, but Tobiah's connections in Judah posed a significant threat to Nehemiah's work, as described in Nehemiah 6:17-19.

What can we learn from Tobiah's family connections?

Tobiah's family connections highlight the importance of relationships and alliances in achieving our goals, as seen in Proverbs 24:3-4. However, they also demonstrate how these connections can be used for personal gain or to manipulate others, as warned against in Proverbs 1:10-19.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways in which I may be bound by oath or obligation to others, and how can I ensure that these commitments align with my values and faith?
How can I balance my loyalty to family and friends with my loyalty to God, as seen in Matthew 10:37-39?
What are some potential dangers of being overly influenced by family connections or social ties, and how can I guard against these in my own life, as warned against in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34?
How can I use my own relationships and alliances to build up and support others, rather than manipulating or controlling them, as described in Ephesians 4:29-32?

Gill's Exposition on Nehemiah 6:18

For there were many in Judah sworn unto him,.... To Tobiah, who not only in a private manner corresponded with him by letters, but bound themselves by an oath to him to be true to his interest, and

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18

Sworn unto him, to be true to him in the prosecution of his wicked designs. His son had taken the daughter of Meshullam: this is noted to show the mischief of such unequal and forbidden marriages, and how reasonable and necessary Ezra’ s action was in the dissolution of them.

Trapp's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18

Nehemiah 6:18 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.Ver. 18. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him] Besides that intercourse of letters aforementioned, Tobiah had his pensioners among the Jews, who were his sworn servants, and had taken oath, or (as the Hebrew hath it) they were lords of an oath to him. In the year 1583, Girald, earl of Desmond’ s, men had barbarously vowed to forswear God, before they would forsake him. I know not what these Jews had sworn to Tobiah (to be true to him likely, and to prosecute his designs), but those of them at this day living are great swearers (they were so in St James’ s time, James 5:12), but they keep no oath unless they swear upon their own Torah or book of the law, brought out of their synagogues (Weemse). Because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah] One of those corrupt nobles, Nehemiah 6:17, and Meshullam was another, who also helped to build the wall, Nehemiah 3:4, and seemed forward, but now shows himself in his colours. Thou mayest be the lead horse in the team (saith one), a ring leader of good exercises, as Joash, 2 Chronicles 24:4-6. Thou mayest flock after zealous preachers, as those did after John Baptist, Matthew 3:5. Yea, stand out in persecution, and not shrink in the wetting, as the thorny ground did not; and yet be no better than a very painted hypocrite.

Ellicott's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18

(18) Sworn unto him.—Shechaniah was of the family of Arah, which had come over with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:5). Tobiah had married his daughter, and Tobiah’s son had married a daughter of Meshullam, one of the builders of the wall (Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 3:30). This family connection led to a conspiracy by oath to thwart the governor. The names of Tobiah and his son are Hebrew; and it is probable that, though naturalised Ammonites, they were of Hebrew extraction. This renders it easier to understand the facility with which the affinity was contracted.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18

Verse 18. He was the son-in-law of Shechaniah] Previously to the coming of Nehemiah, the Jews seemed to be fast intermixing with the heathen, by intermarriages with Ashdodites, Ammonites, and Moabites; see Ne 13:23. Ezra had many evils of this kind to redress, (Ezra 9:3, c.,) chiefly among the common people, though there were both chiefs and priests in that trespass. But here we find the heathen and Jewish nobles interlinked and the latter were so far imbued with the spirit of idolatry, that they forgot God, his service, their brethren, and their own souls.

Cambridge Bible on Nehemiah 6:18

18. sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of, &c.] ‘Sworn unto him.’ LXX. ἔνορκοι … αὐτῷ. It is implied that Tobiah’s connexion by marriage ensured him the support of many leading Jews; the conjunction ‘because’ suggests that the members of a family on welcoming a stranger within their circle, pledged themselves to him by an oath. It is possible however to give a more general interpretation: many of the nobles conspired with Tobiah, and they had opportunities to meet him on account of his connexion by marriage. In Nehemiah 13:4 we find Eliashib the High-priest described as ‘allied unto Tobiah.’ ‘Son-in-law,’ or at any rate a relation by marriage. Shechaniah the son of Arah] R.V. Shecaniah, &c. The house of Arah is mentioned in Ezra 2:5. Shecaniah was clearly a man of eminence. Johanan] R.V. Jehohanan. The name of Tobiah’s son is a compound of which the first two syllables are derived from the sacred Hebrew Name for God. Cf. note on Nehemiah 2:10. had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah] R.V. had taken … to wife. This Meshullam is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 3:30, from which passages we conclude that he was of priestly descent.

Barnes' Notes on Nehemiah 6:18

Though Tobiah is called “the servant” or “slave” Nehemiah 2:10, Nehemiah 2:19, and was perhaps a bought slave of Sanballat’s, yet he was in such a position that Jewish nobles readily contracted affinity with him.

Whedon's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:18

18. Many in Judah sworn unto him — Pledged for relationship’s sake to advance Tobiah’s interests.

Sermons on Nehemiah 6:18

	Sermon	Description
	Bristol Conference 1975-11 Nehemiah - His Plan by Stan Ford	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of dedicating time to God's work, even amidst busy daily lives. He uses the example of a man who traveled from Persia to Jerus

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Nehemiah 6:18

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