Nehemiah 6:12

And lo, I perceived that R.V. And I discerned, and, lo. The R.V. gives the verb the requisite sense of -recognition" as in Genesis 27:23, -he discerned him not." Not as some commentators -I considered." Of a sudden, as it were, Nehemiah distinguishes the man's object. The interjection -and, lo," follows after the recognition of Shemaiah's character and intent.

God had not sent him The emphasis lies on -God," i.e. it was not God that sent him, but Sanballat and his party. Cf. Jeremiah 23:21, -I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied." Nehemiah's words probably refer to the Deuteronomic law about the false prophet that -speaketh rebellion against God" and seeketh -to draw thee away from the Lord thy God" (Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 13:10).

he pronouncedthis prophecy against me i.e. his prophecy was not on behalf of God to declare a divine message, but to oppose Nehemiah.

for(R.V. And) Tobiah and Sanballat The clause is not a parenthetical explanation, but gives the third point which Nehemiah -discerned" in Shemaiah's action. He had -discerned" (1) that Shemaiah's message was not of God, (2) that its purpose was hostile to himself, (3) that it was the result of bribery on the part of Tobiah and Sanballat.

This is the first statement that Tobiah and Sanballat were in communication with a party in Jerusalem itself hostile to Nehemiah, cf. Nehemiah 6:17-19; Nehemiah 13:4; Nehemiah 13:28. -Tobiah and Sanballat." The usual order of the names is inverted, it has been suggested, because -Tobiah was the immediate briber, Sanballat only finding the funds" (Pulpit Comm.). More probably, however, his name stands first in this passage because in intrigues with the Jews of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 13:4 ff.) he was the more active and dangerous.

hired Cf. Ezra 4:5.