Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah 6:1-4

We have here, 1. The treacherous designs of Sanballat disappointed, ver. 1—4. 2. His malignant litter disappeared, ver. 5. 3. The folly prophets baffled, ver. 10—14. 4. The work finished, notwithstanding the treachery of some Jesus, ver. 15—19.

1. NOW it came to pass, when Sanballat, and a Chap. ii. Tubiah, and Gethsem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had baffled the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (* though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates), 2. That Sanballat and Gethsem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of: One: but they thought to do me mischief. 3. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work scale, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4. Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

The reflexes enemies of God’s people could not bear to for the work so prosperous, without attempts to hinder and obstruct it; and therefore they lay a fence to take off Nehemiah, the great promoter of the work, by inviting him to a friendly conference in one of the villages of Benjamin. But suspecting some plot, or having received some intelligence of their design, he refuted to go, pleading the urgency of his work as his excuse for not meeting them. Four several times this proposal was made, and as often rejected with the same answer. Note, (1.) The proposals of known enemies should be weighed with jealous caution. (2.) When we have business which calls, visits of compliance and civility must be postponed. (3.) Repeated follicitations to do what is evil, or imprudent, should meet with repeated denials.

5. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me, in like manner, the first time, with an open letter in his hand: 6. Wherein was written; It is reported among the heathen, and Gathmu faith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to the words. 7. 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 the words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 8. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 9. 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.

Nehemiah 6:5-9

When one design miscarries, Sanballat conwives another: since he cannot seduce him from the work, he seeks to terrify him.

1. He sends a letter, intimating the information which Gethsem, or Gathmu, had given, and desiring a conference thereupon; pretending friendship, as if, should the report spread, of his intention to rebel, and make himself king, the consequence might be dangerous. Note, (1.) For protection of friendship often cloak foul designs. (2.) It is an old plot of the enemies of God’s people, to represent them as seduction, and make them obnoxious to the government.

2. Nehemiah easily saw the design was to weaken his hands, and therefore, whilst he denies the accusation, and lays the invention at the door of his enemy, he looks to God to strengthen him, and then his foes may rage in vain. Note, (1.) No law, or unsevolent reports, should weaken our hands from the work of God. (2.) They who have almighty power engaged for them, may look up to God and be considered; he will uphold them. (3.) The more the enemy rages, the more shall God’s strength be perfected in our weakness.

6 N 10. After-

10. Afterwards I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Meherabee, 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 say thee, yea in the night will they come to say thee. 11. And I said, “Should such a man as I see?” and who is there, that being as I am, would go into the temple to save him life? I will not go in. 12. And lo, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophets’ against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13. 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. 14. “My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and on the prophets’ Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

Nehemiah 6:10-14

Defeating of success by his own contrivances, Sanballat, by bribes, engages some of the Jews to betray Nehemiah. The plot had was under pretence of zeal for his safety, which was in danger, to induce him to take refuge in the temple, which was both unlawful for him, as not being a profit, and would immediately discourage the workmen, and give just suspicion that the former accusations were true. The person employed was Shemaiah, a pretended prophets, Noadiah, and others. Nehemiah seems to have had a good opinion of Shemaiah, and to have come to consult him on the difficulties and dangers to which he was exposed; and he, to put him in fear, let him know his life was in danger that very night, unless he became himself in the temple. But Nehemiah with form rejected the cowardly ftep to which he was advised, so unbecoming a man of his station and character. The advice, in contrary to God’s glory, detected the lying prophet; and Nehemiah soon discovered Sanballat at the bottom of this plot, designing to draw him into sin, and thereby blacken his character, and hurt his influence. For such wickedness he referred their judgment to God, who would surely will for these things. Note, (1.) The treachery of pretended friends is more to be feared, than the opposition of professed foes. (2.) Satan’s mindless often wear the garb of God’s prophets. We must not believe every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God. (3.) When God’s cause is at stake, our very life must not be dear unto us. (4.) It is better to brave the greatest dangers than commit the least sin. (5.) The devil’s design in tempting us to sin, is not only to wound our own souls, but to bring reproach upon our holy profession. (6.) The deepest laid schemes for his people’s hurt, God can disappoint to his enemies confusion. (7.) We to that sinner, whose iniquity is marked before God; and whose judgment lingereth not.

15. ¶ So the wall was finished, in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. 16. 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. 17. ¶ Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. 18. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechanah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Mehulilam, the son of Bereschiah. 19. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him: and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Nehemiah 6:15-19

If God bless, then we shall be blessed in spite of every enemy. We have here,

1. The wall finished, to the great dismay and vexation of their neighbours, in fifty-two days. God’s hand evidently appeared in the work, and therefore all opposition was impotent and vain. Note, (1.) When we are heavy in God’s service, much may be done in a little time. (2.) The enemies of God’s people shall be made to see and own his care over them. (3.) When God will work, none can let it.

2. The treacherous correspondence carried on between Tobiah and some of the nobles, and many of the people of Judah; he ungranted were they to Nehemiah, and he said to the interests of their own country. Tobiah and his son had both married Jewish wives; therefore their families were intimately connected with him; spoke handsomely of him to Nehemiah, as a man worthy his regard; and when he utterly disclaimed all connection with him, they reported all he said to Tobiah, who seeing Nehemiah stand, despaired of ingratiating himself, and tried by letters to intimidate him. Note, (1.) Nobility is no

proof against basenets and bribery. The greatest men of a Bishops’ State are often the betrayers of it. (2.) Intimate familiarity, and connection with the ungodly, cannot but tend to corrupt our own souls. (3.) Though the enemy threaten never to high, we need not fear whilst God is on our side.