Nehemiah 6

The enemies hearing that the work was almost finished, seek unto Nehemia for a deceitful conference with him without the city, so to get him into their hands, verse 1. Etc. And he wisely giving them a flat denial, they seek to affrighten him off from the work by feigned lies, and false reports of his rebellion against the king, but all in vain, 5. He is also tempted within by hired and false Prophets, yet remaineth undaunted, 10. The treacherous correspondency of some great ones withy the enemy, 17.

1. Moreover, it came to pass, when it was heard by Saneballat, and Tobia, and by Gesem the Arabian, and by our other Enemies, [Hebr. The remnant of our Enemies] that I had built the wall, and (that) there was no breach left therein; neither at this time had I set up the doors in the gates: [Compare above chapter 3. On vers.3.]

2. Then Saneballat and Gesem sent unto me, to say; come, and let us gather together in the villages, [That is, in one of the villages. See Judg.12.on vers.7.Others, Cephirim, holding it to be a proper name of a place: as Cephira is, below chap.7.29.] in the valley of Ono, [lying in Benjamin, below chapter 11.35.] but they thought to do me mischief. [That is, to kill, destroy me.]

3. And I sent messengers unto them to say; I do a great work, so that I shall not be able to come down; why should this work cease, whilest I should leave it, and come down to you?

4. Now they sent (well) four times unto me after the same manner: [Heb. after this same word; and so presently again and in the next verse] and I answered them after the same manner.

5. Then sent Sanballat his youth unto me in the same manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

6. Wherein was written; it is heard among the nations, and Gasmu [Above verse 1. Called Gesen, the Arabian] saith (that) thou and the jews think to rebel, therefore thou buildest the wall, and thou shalt be their king, according as these things are. [That is, according as these things are carried. Oth. according to these words, or, according as the speech goeth. Hebr. According to these words, or matters, things.]

7. That thou hast also appointed Prophets to proclame of thee at Jerusalem, saying; he is king in Juda; [Hebr. A King in Juda; that is, we have now a king of our own among us] Now it will be heard by the king, according as these things have passed or happened. Oth. according to these words] come now then, and let us take counsel together. [how to prevent that the king of Persia, coming to hear hereof, may not be enraged against us, and intend great mischief both against thee, and against us all.]

8. But I sent unto him to say, There is nothing done of such things as sayest; but thou feignest them out of thine (own) heart.

9. For they all sought to make us timorous [Hebr. They all made us timorous; to wit, as much as in them lay, it was their whole aim in all this, that they endeavoured to make us afraid, to put us in fear. See bel. Verse.14. Compare Psal.56.on verse 2. Jer.2.on verse 3.] saying, Their hands shall cease from the work, that it shall not be done: Now then strengthen mine hands. [this is taken by many as Nehemia prayer against the plots and devices of his enemies. Some take it thus; But now, I will strengthen mine hands, or it is to strengthen mine hands: [That is, I will be the more vigilant and couragious against them.]

10. Now when I came into the house of Semaja [The former plot was laid by the enemies from without; here Nehemiah relateth was practised against him by his false brethren within] the son of Delaja, [In 1 Chron.24.16. there is mention made of one Delaja, that was the chiefest Priest of the three and twenty orders or courses, of whose posterity, some are of opinion that this Semaja was] the son of Mehethabeel (now he was shut up) [feigning that he kept himself alone in his chamber, at or in the Temple (as may be suspected, because the Priests had their chambers there) because of devotion, or some religious vow, that so he might the better deceive Nehemia, under a shew and pretence of holiness, with his Prophesy (as if it came from God) whereof mention is made in the sequel. Compare 1 Sam.21.7.] then said he, let us come together into the house of God, into the midst of the temple, [That is into the Temple] and let us shut the doors of the Temple, for they will come to kill thee, yea they will come by night to kill thee.

11. But I said, should a man as I, flee? [that have a good conscience, and am fully assured that my work and calling is of God. Hence Nehemia might also gather, that his Prophecy was not of God] and who is there, being as I, that should go into the Temple, that he might remain alive? [as sometimes malefactors seem to save themselves in the house of God. See Exod.21.14. 1 Kings 1:51. and 2.28. neither were the doors in the gates yet hung on, below chap.7.1. so that there being appearance of danger for Nehemia by night, this Semaja feigneth as if he, out of a good affection toward Nehemia, would hide him in the Temple, but it was meer deceit. Oth. and live, or remain alive; as if he had said, I must surely have cause to fear or expect death, if I should go into the Temple against the command of God] I will not go in.

12. For I perceived, and lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this Prophecy against me, because Tobia and Sanballat had hired him. [That is, he pronounced or uttered this Prophecy, not for my good, as he feigned & dissembled, but by the instigation of mine enemies, to make me afraid, and to bring me to shame, as followeth.]

13. Therefore was he hired that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin; [Against the law of God, and my calling. See above on verse 11.] that they might have something for an evil name, [that is, to make me have an ill name, or to scatter an ill report abroad of me. Compare Eccl.7.on verse 1.] that they might reproach me.

14. Remember my God, Tobia and Sanballat, according to these his [Oth. their, Hebr. his: which may be applied to one or either of these, or to Semaja, who suffered himself to be hired by them for these wicked practises] works: and also the Prophetess Noadja, [Who did falsely assume this title unto her self] and the rest of the Prophets [Hebr. the remnant of the prophets] that sought to make me afraid. [as above verse 9. See there.]

15. Now the wall was finished on the five and twentieth day of Elul, [The sixth month of the Jews, agreeing partly with our August, and partly with our September] in two and fifty days. [after they had begun to build. This circumstance serveth for the magnifying the mercy of God shewed to his people in spite of their foes.]

16. And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard (this,) then all the heathen that were about us feared, and they decayed greatly in their eyes: [That is, their countenance was fallen by reason of discouragement, or they seemed to themselves that they should have no power more to oppose or attempt ought against the jews. Compare Job 12:3. with the annotate.] for they perceived, that this work was done by our God.

17. Also in those days the Nobles [Hebr. white ones See above chap.2.on verse 16.] of Juda wrote many letters, [Hebr. multiplied their letters] which went unto Tobia wrote back again] came unto them.

18. For many in Juda had sworn unto him, [Hebr. (were) lords, or masters of the oath, etc. That is, associated and engaged by oath; These were the fruits of forbidden marriages, that are related here in this verse] because he was the son in law [Oth. brother in law] of Secanja, the son of Arab, and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Mesullam the son of Berechja.

19. Also they reported [Hebr. they were saying,] his good deeds, [Hebr. goodnesse] before my face, they carried my words forth unto him; Tobia (then) sent letters [Oth. that Tobia had sent letters, etc. Taking it for the words, that Nehemia had spoken unto them] to make me fearful. [as verse 9.]