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6:1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 6:2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
6:3 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? 6:4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6:6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu 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.
6:7 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.
6:8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
6:9 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.
6:10 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.
6:11 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.
6:12 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.
6:13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
6:14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
6:17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
6:19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.


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Everything King James Bible:Nehemiah
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Nehemiah
Book: Nehemiah
Chapter: 6

Overview:
Sanballat's plot to hinder Nehemiah. (1-9) False prophets try
to frighten Nehemiah. (10-14) The Wall finished, Treachery of
some among the Jews. (15-19)

1-9 Let those who are tempted to idle merry meetings By vain
companions, thus answer the Temptation, We have work to do, and
must not neglect it. We must never suffer ourselves to be
overcome, By repeated urgency, to do anything sinful or
imprudent; but when attacked with the same Temptation, must
resist it with the same reason and resolution. It is common for
that which is desired only By the malicious, to be falsely
represented By them as desired By the many. But Nehemiah knew at
what they aimed, he not only denied that such things were true,
but that they were reported; he was better known than to be thus
suspected. We must never omit any known duty for fear it should
be misconstrued; but, while we keep a good Conscience, let us
trust God with our good name. God's people, though loaded with
reproach, are not really fallen So low in reputation as some
would have them thought to be. Nehemiah lifted up his Heart to
Heaven in a short Prayer. When, in our Christian work and
warfare, we enter upon any service or conflict, this is a good
Prayer, I have such a duty to do, such a Temptation to grapple
with; now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Every
Temptation to draw us from duty, should quicken us the more to
duty.

10-14 The greatest mischief our enemies can do us, is, to
frighten us from our duty, and to lead us to do what is sinful.
Let us never decline a good work, never do a bad one. We ought
to try all advice, and to reject what is contrary to the Word of
God. Every Man should study to be consistent. Should I, a
professed Christian, called to be a Saint, a Child of God, a
member of Christ, a Temple of the Holy Ghost, should I be
covetous, sensual, proud, or envious? Should I yield to
impatience, discontent, or Anger? Should I be slothful,
unbelieving, or unmerciful? What effects will such conduct have
upon others? All that God has done for us, or By us, or given to
us, should lead us to watchfulness, self-denial, and diligence.
Next to the sinfulness of Sin, we should dread the scandal.

15-19 The Wall was begun and finished in fifty-two days, though
they rested On the sabbaths. A great Deal of work may be done in
a little time, if we set about it in Earnest, and keep close to
it. See the mischief of marrying with strangers. When men once
became akin to Tobiah, they soon became sworn to him. A sinful
Love leads to a sinful League. The enemy of souls employs many
instruments, and forms many projects, to bring reproach On the
active servants of God, or to take them from their work. But we
should follow the Example of Him who laid down his Life for the
Sheep. Those that simply cleave to the Lord and his work will be
supported.

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