Nehemiah 6:2

Sanballat and Geshem It is noticeable that Tobiah's name is not also mentioned. Some commentators have held that this omission is to be accounted for by the fact of Tobiah being -the mere servant of Sanballat" (see Nehemiah 2:10). But the explanation seems very improbable when we consider the prominence of Tobiah in Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 4:7; Nehemiah 6:17; Nehemiah 6:19; Nehemiah 13:7-8, and the way in which his name is mentioned in Nehemiah 6:12; Nehemiah 6:14. It is better to suppose that Nehemiah's enemies deputed two of the most crafty of their number to make these overtures for an interview. An invitation to meet and discuss matters with only two of the leaders would wear a friendly and innocent appearance. Perhaps Tobiah and the other conspirators were intended to take advantage of Nehemiah's absence and to make a surprise attack upon Jerusalem.

insome one of the villages R.V. in one of the villages. According to this translation the invitation leaves it open to Nehemiah to select the place of meeting. But literally the Hebrew gives -in the villages (Chephirim)". It is very possible that this word gives the name of a place (cf. Chephirah, Ezra 2:25), as Rashi long ago suggested. It is certainly natural to expect that Sanballat and Geshem would name a place for the proposed interview; and the form of the Hebrew word favours this explanation. The proposed meeting-place then would be -Hacchephirim."

in the plain of Ono On Ono, see Ezra 2:33 (Nehemiah 7:37; Nehemiah 11:35; 1 Chronicles 8:12). An interview in the plain of Ono would have necessitated Nehemiah's absence from Jerusalem during three or four days. The object of his enemies was doubtless to seize or assassinate him at a distance from Jerusalem.

thought to do me mischief -thought" i.e. -considered how." Cf. Nehemiah 6:6, - thinkto rebel." Genesis 50:20, -ye thought(R.V. meant) evil against me." -Mischief," lit. -evil," by which expression Nehemiah hints that his foes plotted to assassinate him. Cf. 1 Samuel 23:9, -Saul devised mischief." Esther 8:3, -the mischief of Haman the Agagite."