Sanballat was a major opponent towards
Nehemiah while the walls of
Jerusalem were built and reforms were implemented towards
Jews after their return from
Babylonian exile. Sanballat was a prominent
Samartian, a term used for non Israelite who lived in Centeral Israel. Sanballat, as per
Sayce is related with the
Assyrian "Sinballidh," and means "Sin has vivified." Moreover, Sanballat was also known as "the
Horonite," and was connected with
Tobiah the
Ammonite and
Geshem the
Arabian. However, a
Persian, his home was obviously at
Samaria, where the term
Horon possibly originated from
Bethoron.
Once Sanballat saw the returning Jews commencement to rebuild the utterly devastated city of Jerusalem, he mocked them and attempted to discourage them to the point that they would give up.(1) In spite of Sanballat's resistance, the reconstruction was a success.(2) Jews heavily armed themselves while they worked in order to protect themselves against an attack by Sanballat.(3) Attempts by Sanballat to assassinate
Nehimiah were fruitless.(4) Sanbalat's daughter became the wife of one of the sons of
Judah, a grandson of the high priest,
Eliashib, much to the grief of
Nehemiah. The high priest was driven out of Jerusalem on the ground that he had defiled the priesthood.(5)
References:
1) Nehemiah 4:1-2
2) Nehemiah 4:7-8
3) Nehemiah 4:16-18
4) Nehemiah 6:1-12
5) Nehemiah 13: 26-29
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http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/schambers/ww/SVN.HTM