Chapter 6 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the
Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard that I had builded the wall, and that
there was no breach left therein, though at that time I had not set up the
doors upon the gates.
The Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Let us meet together in some one
of the villages in the plain of Ono.
But they thought to do me mischief.
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work,
so that I cannot come down.
Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the
same manner.
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time, with an open
letter in his hand, wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen,
and Geshem you saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel.
For which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king according
to these words?
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 these
words.
Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together.
Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest,
but thou faintest them out of thine own heart.
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.
Afterward I came unto the house of Shimea, the son of Deliah, the son of Mehetabiel,
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 slay thee, yea, in the night will they come to slay
thee.
And I said, Should such a man as I flee?
And who is there, that being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life?
I will not go in.
And lo, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy
against me.
For Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
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.
My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works,
and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would
have put me in fear.
So the war was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and
two days.
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.
Moreover, in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah,
and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of
Shekiniah, the son of Erah.
And his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshulam, the son of Berechiah.
Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him.
And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.