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OEB NEH Chapter 6

6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat and to Tobiah and to Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies, that I had rebuilt the wall and that there was no breach left in it--though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates-- 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, ’Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.’ But they planned to do me injury. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, ’I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, while I leave it and come down to you?’ 4 And they sent to me in this way four times, and I gave them the same answer. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6 in which was written, ’It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu confirms it, that you and the Jews plan to rebel, and that this is the reason you are building the wall, and that you would be their king, 7 and that you also have appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, "There is a king in Judah." And now it will be reported to the king to this effect. COme now, therefore, and let us take counsel together.’ 8 Then I sent to him, saying, ’No such things have been done as you say, but you have devised them in your own mind.’ 9 For they all would have made us afraid, thinking, ’Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it may not be done.’ But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.

10 And when I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up at home, 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 are coming to slay you in the night; yes, in the night they are coming to slay you!’ 11 And I said, ’Should such a man as I flee? And how could anyone like me (a layman) enter the chief room of the temple and still live? I will not enter.’ 12 Then I perceived and it was clear that God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me, because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him, 13 that I should be alarmed and act accordingly and sin; and it would have given them occasion for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their acts, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard, all the surrounding nations feared and fell in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been done by our God.

17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came to them. 18 For many in Judah had taken oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, as wife. 19 Also they praised his goods deeds before me and reported my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid. . . .

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