Nehemiah 6:12

12 And I understood that God had not sent him, but he spake as prophesying to me; and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him for meed. (And then I understood that God had not sent him, but that he only spoke as if prophesying to me; and that Tobiah and Sanballat had bribed him to say it.)

Nehemiah 6:12 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 6:12

And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him
Because he advised to that which was against the cause of God and true religion:

but that he pronounced the prophecy against me;
for by fleeing, as he advised, it would seem that he was guilty of the crimes of rebellion and treason he was charged with; and leaving the people, as they would in course break up, he himself could not be long in safety, no, not in the temple:

for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him;
this he found out afterwards, on purpose to intimidate him, and take such measures as that thereby he would lose his character and his influence.

Nehemiah 6:12 In-Context

10 And I entered privily into the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, which said to me, (Re)Treat we there with ourselves in(to) the house of God, in(to) the midst of the temple, and close we the gates of the house; for they shall come to slay thee, yea, by (the) night they shall come to slay thee. (And I entered into the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was enclosed, or confined, there, and he said to me, Let us go to the House of God, into the middle of the Temple, and lock all the doors of the House; for they shall come to kill thee, yea, in the night they shall come to kill thee.)
11 And I said, Whether any man like to me, that is, trusting so to God, as I do, hath fled for such a thing, and who as I shall enter into the temple, and shall live, or be saved there? I will not enter [in] thither. (And I said, Hath any man like me, who trusteth in God, like I do, fled for such a reason, or would anyone like me, enter into the Temple to save his own life? I will not go there.)
12 And I understood that God had not sent him, but he spake as prophesying to me; and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him for meed. (And then I understood that God had not sent him, but that he only spoke as if prophesying to me; and that Tobiah and Sanballat had bribed him to say it.)
13 For he had taken price, that I should be afeared, and do their will, and that I should do sin; and they should have evil (against me), which they should put to me with shame. (For he had taken money from them, to make me afraid, so that I would do their will, and that I would sin; and then they would have evil to put against me, which they would put on me for my shame.)
14 Lord, have mind of me, for Tobiah and Sanballat, by such works of them; but also of Noadiah, the prophet(ess), and of other prophets, that have made me afeared. (Lord, remember Tobiah, and Sanballat, for all their evil works; and also Noadiah, the prophetess, and the other prophets, who have made me afraid.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.