Noadiah was a female prophet who lived during the time of Nehemiah, after the return from the Babylonian exile. She is mentioned in the book of Nehemiah as one of those who tried to frighten Nehemiah and hinder the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. She represents one of the rare female prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, but in a negative context.
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Noadiah Mentioned as an Opponent of Nehemiah
Nehemiah asks God to remember the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who tried to frighten him from completing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
Noadiah operated in the context of the broader opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and other enemies who tried to stop the rebuilding work in Jerusalem.
1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that not a single gap was left in it—though at that time I had not yet set the doors in the gates—
2Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together at Hakkephirim^ in the plain of Ono." But they were plotting to do me harm.
^ Or "in one of the villages"; the Hebrew word can be read either as a place name or as a common noun.
3So I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
Nehemiah's enemies hired prophets, including Noadiah, to frighten him and make him commit actions that would discredit him. Shemaiah tried to lure Nehemiah into the temple to hide.
10Then I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in there. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us bar the temple doors, for they are coming to kill you—tonight they are coming to kill you."
16When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid, and their confidence sank low, for they knew that this work had been accomplished by our God.
Despite Noadiah's and others' attempts to stop the work, Jerusalem's wall was completed in 52 days, causing the enemies to realize that the work had been done with God's help.
16When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid, and their confidence sank low, for they knew that this work had been accomplished by our God.