# Nehemiah 6 [[Nehemiah 5|←]] • [[Nehemiah 7|→]] --- ### 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 there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) ### 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. ### 3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? ### 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. ### 5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; ### 6 Wherein written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. ### 7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, 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. ### 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. ### 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, strengthen my hands. ### 10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who 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. ### 11 And I said, Should such as I a man flee? and who that, as I would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. ### 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. ### 13 Therefore he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and they might have for an evil report, that they might reproach me. ### 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. ### 15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth of Elul, in fifty and two days. ### 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard and all the heathen that about us saw they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. ### 17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and of Tobiah came unto them. ### 18 For many in Judah sworn unto him, because he the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. ### 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.