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Nehemiah 6

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 6 of 13

1 ¶ And it happened, when it was heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that no break was left in it though at that time I had not made stand the doors on the gates,

2 And Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do evil to me.

3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?

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Chapter Summary

1 Sanballat practices by craft, by rumors, by hired prophecies, to terrify Nehemiah. 15 The work is finished. 17 Secret intelligence passes between the enemies and the nobles of Judah.

Key Hebrew Words

מְלָאכָה work, task H4399 · TWOT 1068b
חוֹמָה wall H2346 · TWOT 674c
יָרֵא make afraid H3372 · TWOT 907
שָׂכַר hire (a false prophet) H7936 · TWOT 2264.1
נְבוּאָה prophecy H5016 · TWOT 1277b
אִגֶּ֫רֶת letter H107 · TWOT 23b

People & Context

Nehemiah

Governor and narrator; refuses the enemies' summons, exposes the hired prophet, and finishes the wall

Sanballat

Chief adversary; repeatedly summons Nehemiah, sends the open accusatory letter, and hires Shemaiah

Tobiah

Ammonite adversary allied by marriage to nobles of Judah; sends letters to frighten Nehemiah

Geshem (Gashmu)

Arabian adversary who joins Sanballat in the plot and spreads the rumor of rebellion

Shemaiah

Son of Delaiah; hired prophet who falsely urges Nehemiah to hide in the temple

Noadiah

Prophetess named among the prophets who tried to make Nehemiah afraid

Timeline

Plots to Lure Nehemiah

Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem repeatedly try to lure Nehemiah out to the plain of Ono to harm him, but he refuses to stop the work.

Nehemiah 6:1-4
Accusations of Rebellion

Sanballat sends an open letter accusing Nehemiah of building the wall to rebel and become king. Nehemiah denies the rumors and prays for strength.

Nehemiah 6:5-9
The False Prophet Shemaiah

Shemaiah, hired by Sanballat and Tobiah, falsely prophesies an assassination attempt to trick Nehemiah into sinning by hiding in the temple. Nehemiah refuses.

Nehemiah 6:10-14

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