1
Now it came to pass, when Sanaballat heard that we were building the wall, that it was grievous to him, and he was very angry, and railed against the Jews.
2
And he said before his brethren (that the army of the Samaritans) that these Jews are building their city? do they indeed offer sacrifices? will they prevail? and will they this day restore the stones, after they have been burnt and made a heap of rubbish?
3
And Tobias the Ammanite came near to him, and said to them, Do they sacrifice or eat in their place? shall not a fox go up and pull down their wall of stones?
4
Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn; and return thou their reproach upon their head, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity,
5
and do not cover iniquity.
7
But it came to pass, when Sanaballat and Tobia, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing, that the breaches began to be stopped, that it appeared very grievous to them.
8
And all of them assembled together, to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to destroy it utterly.
9
So we prayed to our God and set watchmen against them day and night, because of them.
10
And Juda said, The strength of the enemies is broken, yet much rubbish, and we shall not be able to build the wall.
11
And they that afflicted us said, They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.