Nehemiah 6:3-13

3 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?"

4 Yet they sent unto me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same manner.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

6 wherein was written: "It is reported among the heathen, and Geshem 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.

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 these 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.

10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, 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."

11 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."

12 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.

13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

Nehemiah 6:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 6

Sanballat and his brethren, hearing the wall was finished, sent to Nehemiah, to have a meeting with him at a place named, which he refused, Ne 6:1,2, then they sent him a terrifying letter, suggesting that he, and the Jews with him, would be treated as rebels, since their intention, as reported, was to make him king, which letter he regarded not, Ne 6:3-9, then they employed some that pretended to be prophets to advise him to flee to the temple for safety, which he rejected, Ne 6:10-14 and so the work went on and was finished, though there was a secret correspondence carried on between their enemies and some false brethren among themselves, Ne 6:15-19.