Nehemiah 6:1-13 ▼

1 THEN when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard the news that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time we had not set up the doors upon the gates),

2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us go together and encamp as a troop in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me harm.

3 And I sent a messenger to them, saying, I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down, lest the work cease, while I leave it and come down to you.

4 But they sent to me four times in this manner, and I answered them after the same manner.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with a letter in his hand

6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; that is why you are building the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words.

7 And you have also appointed prophets to prophesy concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, Behold, 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.

8 Then I sent to him, saying, There is no truth in such words as these which you say; you are saying them out of your own heart.

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work; and they say to us, Do not do the work. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Then I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel who used to hinder me from work; and he said to me, 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; yea, in the night they are coming to slay you.

11 And I said, Should I flee to men like you? God forbid that I should flee and enter into the temple!

12 And, lo, I perceive that God had not sent him against me; neither has it been said to me by a prophet that he will slay me, for Tobiah and Sanballet and their companions had hired him and sent him to kill me.

13 Therefore he was hired, that I should be afraid and do so and sin, so that I might become to them an evil report, that they might reproach me.