Nehemiah 6:5

_THEN SENT SANBALLAT HIS SERVANT UNTO ME IN LIKE MANNER THE FIFTH TIME WITH AN OPEN LETTER IN HIS HAND;_ Then sent Sanballat his servant ... the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, х_ 'IGERET_ (H107) _ PªTUWCHAAH_ (H6605); Septuagint, epistolee aneoogmeneen]. In Western Asia, letters, after being rolled up like a map, are flattened to the breadth of an inch, and instead of being sealed, are pasted at the ends. In Eastern Asia, the Persians make up their letters in the form of a roll about six inches long, and a bit of paper is fastened round it with gum, and sealed with an impression of ink, which resembles our printers' ink, but is not so thick. Letters were, and are still, sent to persons of distinction in a bag or purse, and even to equals they are enclosed-the tie being made with a coloured ribbon; but to inferiors, or persons who are to be treated c

1-9 Let those who are tempted to idle merry meetings by vain companions, thus answer the temptation, We have work to do, and must not neglect it. We must never suffer ourselves to be overcome, by repeated urgency, to do anything sinful or imprudent; but when attacked with the same temptation, must resist it with the same reason and resolution. It is common for that which is desired only by the malicious, to be falsely represented by them as desired by the many. But Nehemiah knew at what they aimed, he not only denied that such things were true, but that they were reported; he was better known than to be thus suspected. We must never omit any known duty for fear it should be misconstrued; but, while we keep a good conscience, let us trust God with our good name. God's people, though loaded with reproach, are not really fallen so low in reputation as some would have them thought to be. Ne...

Verse Nehemiah 6:5. _WITH AN OPEN LETTER IN HIS HAND_] This was an insult to a person of Nehemiah's quality: as letters sent to chiefs and governors in the East are always carefully folded up, and put in costly silken bags, and these carefully sealed. The circumstance is thus marked to show the contempt he (Sanballat) had for him....

The letter was “open,” in order that the contents might be generally known, and that the Jews, alarmed at the threats contained in it, might refuse to continue the work....

EXPOSITION SECRET PROCEEDINGS OF SANBALLAT AND HIS FRIENDS TO HINDER THE BUILDING OF THE WALL, AND THEIR FAILURE. THE WALL COMPLETED (Nehemiah 6:1.). When the open opposition failed, when it was found that Nehemiah's arrangements for guarding the wall (Nehemiah 4:13) were such that success was not likely to attend the employment of force by the confederates, with such resources as they had at their disposal, and the idea of an assault was therefore give

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The attempt to entice Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:1)_ 2. The attempt to intimidate him (Nehemiah 6:5) 3. The attempt through a false prophet (Nehemiah 6:10) 4. The wall finished (Nehemiah 6:15) 5. The conspiracy between Jewish nobles and Tobiah (Nehemiah 6:17) Nehemiah 6:1. Defeated in all previous efforts to hinder the work and to do harm to the builders of the wall, the enemies made new attempts to make

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._...

SERVANT. young man. OPEN LETTER. That _others_ might read it....

_his servant_ Cf. Nehemiah 4:22. _an open letter in his hand_ -Open," not sealed. The object of this is obvious. It was intended that the contents of the letter should become public property. The servant himself and the adherents of Sanballat within the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:17) would possess themselves of its contents long before it reached the hands of Nehemiah. (1) The charge of treason against Nehemiah and the Jews would terrify the timid from active co-operation in the work, and decide those who were wavering to desist altogether (cf. Nehemiah 6:9). The dissemination of the contents of the letter was therefore an attempt to stay the rebuilding of the walls at the last moment. (2) The effect upon the

WITH AN OPEN LETTER IN HIS HAND— Norden tells us, that when he and his company were at Essuaen, an express arrived there, dispatched by an Arab prince, who brought a letter directed to the reys, or master of their bark, enjoining him not to set out with his bark, or carry them any further; adding, that in a day's time he should be at Essuaen, and would there give his orders respecting them. "The letter, however, according to the usage of the Turks," says this author, "was _open;_ and, as the reys was not on board, the pilot carried it to one of our fathers to read it." Sanballat's sending his servant, therefore, with an _open letter,_ as here specified, did not appear an odd thing, it should seem: but, if it was according to their usages, why is this circumstance complained of, as it visibly is? Why, indeed, is it mentioned at all?—Because, however the sending of _letters open to common...