Dual Panel1Now it came to pass, when Sanballat <05571>_, and Tobiah <02900>_, and Geshem <01654> the Arabian <06163>_, and the rest <03499> of our enemies <0341> (8802)_, heard <08085> (8738) that I had builded <01129> (8804) the wall <02346>_, and [that] there was no breach <06556> left <03498> (8738) therein; (though <01571> <05704> at that time <06256> I had not set up <05975> (8689) the doors <01817> upon the gates <08179>;)
2That Sanballat <05571> and Geshem <01654> sent <07971> (8799) unto me, saying <0559> (8800)_, Come <03212> (8798)_, let us meet <03259> (8735) together <03162> in [some one of] the villages <03715> in the plain <01237> of Ono <0207>_. But they thought <02803> (8802) to do <06213> (8800) me mischief <07451>_.
3And I sent <07971> (8799) messengers <04397> unto them, saying <0559> (8800)_, I [am] doing <06213> (8802) a great <01419> work <04399>_, so that I cannot <03201> (8799) come down <03381> (8800)_: why should the work <04399> cease <07673> (8799)_, whilst <0834> I leave <07503> (8686) it, and come down <03381> (8804) to you?
4Yet they sent <07971> (8799) unto me four <0702> times <06471> after this sort <01697>_; and I answered <07725> (8686) them after the same manner <01697>_.
5Then sent <07971> (8799) Sanballat <05571> his servant <05288> unto me in like manner <01697> the fifth <02549> time <06471> with an open <06605> (8803) letter <0107> in his hand <03027>_;
6Wherein [was] written <03789> (8803)_, It is reported <08085> (8738) among the heathen <01471>_, and Gashmu <01654> saith <0559> (8802) [it, that] thou and the Jews <03064> think <02803> (8802) to rebel <04775> (8800)_: for which cause <03651> thou buildest <01129> (8802) the wall <02346>_, that thou mayest be <01933> (8802) their king <04428>_, according to these words <01697>_. {Gashmu: also called, Geshem}
7And thou hast also appointed <05975> (8689) prophets <05030> to preach <07121> (8800) of thee at Jerusalem <03389>_, saying <0559> (8800)_, [There is] a king <04428> in Judah <03063>_: and now shall it be reported <08085> (8735) to the king <04428> according to these words <01697>_. Come <03212> (8798) now therefore, and let us take counsel <03289> (8735) together <03162>_.
8Then I sent <07971> (8799) unto him, saying <0559> (8800)_, There are <01961> (0) no such things <01697> done <01961> (8738) as thou sayest <0559> (8802)_, but thou feignest <0908> (8802) them out of thine own heart <03820>_.
9For they all made us afraid <03372> (8764)_, saying <0559> (8800)_, Their hands <03027> shall be weakened <07503> (8799) from the work <04399>_, that it be not done <06213> (8735)_. Now therefore, [O God], strengthen <02388> (8761) my hands <03027>_.
10Afterward I came <0935> (8804) unto the house <01004> of Shemaiah <08098> the son <01121> of Delaiah <01806> the son <01121> of Mehetabeel <04105>_, who [was] shut up <06113> (8803)_; and he said <0559> (8799)_, Let us meet together <03259> (8735) in the house <01004> of God <0430>_, within <08432> the temple <01964>_, and let us shut <05462> (8799) the doors <01817> of the temple <01964>_: for they will come <0935> (8802) to slay <02026> (8800) thee; yea, in the night <03915> will they come <0935> (8802) to slay <02026> (8800) thee.
11And I said <0559> (8799)_, Should such <03644> a man <0376> as I flee <01272> (8799)_? and who [is there], that, [being] as I [am], would go <0935> (8799) into the temple <01964> to save his life <02425> (8804)_? I will not go in <0935> (8799)_.
12And, lo, I perceived <05234> (8686) that God <0430> had not sent <07971> (8804) him; but that he pronounced <01696> (8765) this prophecy <05016> against me: for Tobiah <02900> and Sanballat <05571> had hired <07936> (8804) him.
13Therefore [was] he hired <07936> (8803)_, that I should be afraid <03372> (8799)_, and do so <06213> (8799)_, and sin <02398> (8804)_, and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil <07451> report <08034>_, that they might reproach <02778> (8762) me.
14My God <0430>_, think <02142> (8798) thou upon Tobiah <02900> and Sanballat <05571> according to these their works <04639>_, and on the prophetess <05031> Noadiah <05129>_, and the rest <03499> of the prophets <05030>_, that would have put me in fear <03372> (8764)_.
15So the wall <02346> was finished <07999> (8799) in the twenty <06242> and fifth <02568> [day] of [the month] Elul <0435>_, in fifty <02572> and two <08147> days <03117>_.
16And it came to pass, that when all our enemies <0341> (8802) heard <08085> (8804) [thereof], and all the heathen <01471> that [were] about us <05439> saw <07200> (8799) [these things], they were much <03966> cast down <05307> (8799) in their own eyes <05869>_: for they perceived <03045> (8799) that this work <04399> was wrought <06213> (8738) of our God <0430>_.
17Moreover in those days <03117> the nobles <02715> of Judah <03063> sent <01980> (8802) many <07235> (8688) letters <0107> unto Tobiah <02900>_, and [the letters] of Tobiah <02900> came <0935> (8802) unto them. {sent...: Heb. multiplied their letters passing to Tobiah}
18For [there were] many <07227> in Judah <03063> sworn <01167> <07621> unto him, because he [was] the son in law <02860> of Shechaniah <07935> the son <01121> of Arah <0733>_; and his son <01121> Johanan <03076> had taken <03947> (8804) the daughter <01323> of Meshullam <04918> the son <01121> of Berechiah <01296>_.
19Also they reported <0559> (8802) his good deeds <02896> before <06440> me, and uttered <03318> (8688) my words <01697> to him. [And] Tobiah <02900> sent <07971> (8804) letters <0107> to put me in fear <03372> (8763)_. {words: or, matters}