NehemiahChapter 6

+ Secondary text Original text ← Previous Next →Contribute

When 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—

Sanballat 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.

So 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?"

Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

The fifth time, Sanballat sent his servant to me with the same message, and in his hand was an open letter.

In it was written: "It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it too—that you and the Jews are planning to revolt, and that this is why you are building the wall. They say you intend to make yourself their king,

and that you have even set up prophets to proclaim about you in Jerusalem, 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will reach the king. So come, let us confer together."

Then I sent him this reply: "Nothing of what you say has happened. You are inventing it all out of your own head."

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will never be finished." But now, my God,^ strengthen my hands. ^ The words "my God" are not in the Hebrew, which reads simply "But now, strengthen my hands"; they are supplied because the line is a prayer.

Then 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."

But I said, "Should a man like me run away? And who like me could enter the temple and live? I will not go!"

I realized that God had not sent him; he had spoken this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

He was hired to make me afraid, so that I would do this and sin, and they would have an evil report to spread and could hold me in contempt.

Remember, my God, what Tobiah and Sanballat have done—and Noadiah the prophetess as well, and the rest of the prophets who tried to frighten me.

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

When 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.

In those days, too, the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and letters from Tobiah kept coming to them,

for many in Judah were bound to him by oath, since he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

They kept praising his good deeds in my presence and reporting my words back to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Lookup

Summary2

Chapter 6

Main Theme: Nehemiah overcomes his opponents' intrigues and completes the wall of Jerusalem with God's help.

Content: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem repeatedly attempt to halt the wall-building through meeting invitations, false accusations of rebellion, and a bribed prophet who seeks to lure Nehemiah into the temple to discredit him. Nehemiah sees through all their plans and refuses to be distracted from his work. The wall is completed in 52 days, and the enemies acknowledge that God was behind this work. Nevertheless, Tobiah maintains influence through marriage connections with prominent Jewish families.

Key Words/Images:

The wall completed in 52 days: A testimony to God's blessing and the people's dedication despite constant opposition.
An open letter: Sanballat's attempt to publicly damage Nehemiah's reputation with false accusations of rebellion and royal ambitions.
Shemaiah the false prophet: Bribed to lure Nehemiah into sin by hiding in the temple, which would undermine his authority.
The enemies' fear: When the wall was finished, everyone understood that God had done this work.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Nehemiah 6

People

Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem are the main opponents who, in this chapter, use political manipulation rather than direct threats. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria, and his title "Horonite" may link him to Beth-Horon. Geshem (called Gashmu/גַשְׁמוּ in v. 6) was the leader of an Arab tribal confederation that controlled trade routes south of Judah. Tobiah, the Ammonite servant, had extensive family connections within the Jewish elite through marriage (v. 18).

Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel (v. 10) is presented as someone who was "confined" (Hebrew: עָצוּר, 'atzur), which could mean ritual impurity, prophetic withdrawal, or house arrest. He pretends to be a prophet, but Nehemiah exposes him as bribed. Noadiah the prophetess (v. 14) is mentioned as one of several prophets working against Nehemiah—a rare example of a female prophet in this period, though here she plays a negative role.

Shecaniah son of Arah (v. 18) was Tobiah's father-in-law, and Johanan, Tobiah's son, had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. These marriage alliances explain why many Jewish nobles had loyalty ties to Tobiah.

Places

Kefirim in the Valley of Ono (v. 2) – the Hebrew בַּכְּפִירִים בְּבִקְעַת אוֹנוֹ can mean "in the villages of the Valley of Ono" or refer to a specific place called Kefirim. The area lay in the border region between Judah and Samaria, on the northwestern edge of Jewish territory. This was neutral ground outside Nehemiah's jurisdiction, making it a dangerous meeting place. That the opponents chose this location reveals their intention to lure Nehemiah away from Jerusalem's protection.

The Temple sanctuary (Hebrew: הֵיכָל, heikhal) that Shemaiah suggested hiding in (v. 10) refers to the holy area within the temple building itself. Only priests had access to this area, and Nehemiah, as a layperson, would have committed a serious sin by entering there (cf. Num 18:7).

Events and Customs

Open letter (v. 5: אִגֶּרֶת פְּתוּחָה) was a deliberate diplomatic insult. In ancient times, official letters were sealed to protect their contents and the sender's honor. An open letter was meant to spread rumors publicly and pressure the recipient. The accusation that Nehemiah intended to make himself king (vv. 6–7) was extremely serious under Persian rule, since rebellion was punishable by death.

False prophecy for payment (vv. 12–13) was a known phenomenon in ancient Israel. The opponents tried to get Nehemiah to desecrate the temple, which would have ruined his reputation and authority. That Nehemiah recognized Shemaiah's "prophecy" as false shows his spiritual discernment.

Four times (v. 4: אַרְבַּע פְּעָמִים) the enemies sent the same invitation, and Nehemiah consistently gave the same answer. The fifth time (v. 5), they changed tactics with the open letter.

Key Terms

The Hebrew expression "strengthen my hands" (v. 9: חַזֵּק אֶת־יָדָי, chazzeq et-yadai) is a prayer for divine strength and endurance. The opposite phrase "let their hands grow weak" (יִרְפּוּ יְדֵיהֶם) describes discouragement and giving up.

Elul (v. 15) is the sixth month in the Jewish calendar (August–September). That the wall was completed in 52 days (לַחֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם יוֹם) demonstrated effective leadership, but also divine help—something even the enemies acknowledged (v. 16).

"Those bound by oath" (v. 18: בַּעֲלֵי שְׁבוּעָה, ba'alei shevu'ah – literally "lords/owners of an oath") shows that many Jewish nobles were tied to Tobiah through covenants and marriage alliances, creating conflicts of loyalty within Jerusalem.

People12

Shecaniah1 Meshullam1 Mehetabel1 Geshem (the Arab)3 Johanan1 Sanballat (the Horonite)5 Delaja1 Berechiah1 Shemaiah1 Noadiah1 Tobiah5 Arah1

See all people →

Key words7

Sanballat — A Samaritan leader who opposed Nehemiah's work in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
Tobiah — An Ammonite nobleman and enemy of Nehemiah, who also tried to hinder the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
Geshem — An Arab ruler who was allied with Sanballat and Tobiah in their attempt to oppose Nehemiah's project.
Prophecy — A revelation or message from God delivered through a prophet. In the book of Nehemiah, false prophets try to deceive Nehemiah.
The Wall — The physical barrier around Jerusalem that Nehemiah and his people worked to rebuild in order to protect the city and its inhabitants.
Letter — Written communication between individuals. In Nehemiah chapter 6, letters are used as a tool to spread lies and rumors about Nehemiah and his work.
Fear — A feeling of anxiety or worry caused by a threat. Nehemiah's opponents tried to create fear among the people to stop the rebuilding of the wall.