Also they reported his good deeds before me
Recommended him as a very worthy man, deserving of respect and notice by Nehemiah, and to be taken into his friendship, and admitted to conversation with him, whose counsel and advice might be of service:
and uttered my words to him;
reported both what he said and did; for the word used signifies both words and actions:
and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear;
perceiving, by the intelligence of his friends, that Nehemiah would have nothing to say to him, nor to do with him, he threatened him.