Nehemiah 6:11

11 But I said, "Should a man like me run away? And would a man like me go into the temple so that he can save his life? I will not go in!"

Nehemiah 6:11 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 6:11

And I said, should such a man as I flee?
&c.] The king's commissioner, who had the conducting and management of the whole affair of building the wall of Jerusalem, on whom it wholly depended; for, should he absent himself, the people would depart and leave their work, and the city and wall be left defenceless, which was what was hoped for from this scheme; and who had expressed such confidence in God, and had had such success:

and who is there, that, being as I am;
in such a post, and in such circumstances, and on whom so much depended:

would go into the temple to save his life?
or where there was little reason to believe it would be preserved long, should he take such a step as that:

I will not go in;
as being neither lawful, nor honourable, nor safe.

Nehemiah 6:11 In-Context

9 for all of them [sought] to frighten us, saying, "their hands will not do the work." And now, [God], strengthen my hands.

10 Now I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined [at home], and he said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple; for they are coming to kill you--during the night they are coming to kill you."

11 But I said, "Should a man like me run away? And would a man like me go into the temple so that he can save his life? I will not go in!"

12 Then I look and realized God had not sent him; rather, he had spoken the prophecy against me [because] Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 For this reason he was hired: to frighten [me] so that I would act and sin, so that they would have a bad report so they could taunt me.