Nehemiah 6:1-9

Nehemiah's Enemies Make a further Attempt to Frustrate his Work. The narrative about the rebuilding of the walls, which was broken by ch. 5, is here taken up again. Sanballat and his confederates seek to allure Nehemiah to a conference in order thus to get him into their power. Nehemiah refuses to go to this meeting on the ground that he is too busy with the work which he has in hand. Sanballat, having tried four times in vain to persuade Nehemiah to come, at length tries to intimidate him by sending him a letter in which he accuses him of aspiring to the kingship, and threatens to report this to the king. Sanballat thinks that by this means he may induce Nehemiah to come and meet him. Nehemiah, however, merely denies Sanballat's allegations, telling him that he has made them up.

Nehemiah 6:2. the plain of Ono: cf. Nehemiah 11:35; near Lydda (p. 28), twelve miles to the north of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 6:7. thou hast also appointed prophets: cf. 1 Kings 22:1; Jeremiah 28:1, etc.; the prophets had taken a leading part in times past in the setting up of kings.

Nehemiah 6:9. But now. : LXX But now will I strengthen my hands (cf. mg.).