Dual Panel1Now when<3512> it was reported<8085> to Sanballat<5571>, Tobiah<2900>, to Geshem<1654> the Arab<6163> and to the rest<3499> of our enemies<340> that I had rebuilt<1129> the wall<2346>, and that no<3808> breach<6556> remained<3498> in it, although<1571> at that time<6256> I had not set<5975> up the doors<1817> in the gates<8179>,
2then Sanballat<5571> and Geshem<1654> sent<7971> a message to me, saying<559>, "Come<1980>, let us meet<3259> together<3164> at Chephirim<3716> in the plain<1237> of Ono<207>." But they were planning<2803> to harm<7463> me.
3So I sent<7971> messengers<4397> to them, saying<559>, "I am doing<6213> a great<1419> work<4399> and I cannot<3201><3808> come<3381> down<3381>. Why<4100> should the work<4399> stop<7673> while<3512> I leave<7503> it and come<3381> down<3381> to you?"
4They sent<7971> messages to me four<702> times<6471> in this<2088> manner<1697>, and I answered<7725> them in the same<2088> way<1697>.
5Then Sanballat<5571> sent<7971> his servant<5288> to me in the same<2088> manner<1697> a fifth<2549> time<6471> with an open<6605> letter<107> in his hand<3027>.
6In it was written<3789>, "It is reported<8085> among the nations<1471>, and Gashmu<1654> says<559>, that you and the Jews<3064> are planning<2803> to rebel<4775>; therefore<5921><3651> you are rebuilding<1129> the wall<2346>. And you are to be their king<4428>, according to these<428> reports<1697>.
7"You have also<1571> appointed<5975> prophets<5030> to proclaim<7121> in Jerusalem<3389> concerning<5921> you, 'A king<4428> is in Judah<3063>!' And now<6258> it will be reported<8085> to the king<4428> according to these<428> reports<1697>. So come<1980> now<6258>, let us take<3289> counsel<3289> together<3164>."
8Then I sent<7971> a message to him saying<559>, "Such<428> things<1697> as you are saying<559> have not been<1961> done<1961>, but you are inventing<908> them in your own mind<3820>."
9For all<3605> of them were trying to frighten<3372> us, thinking<559>, "They will become<3027><7503> discouraged<7503><3027> with the work<4399> and it will not be done<6213>." But now<6258>, O God, strengthen<2388> my hands<3027>.
10When I entered<935> the house<1004> of Shemaiah<8098> the son<1121> of Delaiah<1806>, son<1121> of Mehetabel<4105>, who<1931> was confined<6113> at home, he said<559>, "Let us meet<3259> together<3259> in the house<1004> of God<430>, within<8432> the temple<1964>, and let us close<5462> the doors<1817> of the temple<1964>, for they are coming<935> to kill<2026> you, and they are coming<935> to kill<2026> you at night<3915>."
11But I said<559>, "Should a man<376> like<3644> me flee<1272>? And could one such<3644> as I go<935> into the temple<1964> to save<2421> his life<2421>? I will not go<935> in."
12Then I perceived<5234> that surely<2009> God<430> had not sent<7971> him, but he uttered<1696> his prophecy<5016> against<5921> me because Tobiah<2900> and Sanballat<5571> had hired<7936> him.
13He was hired<7936> for this<4616> reason<4616>, that I might become<3372> frightened<3372> and act<6213> accordingly<3651> and sin<2398>, so that they might have<1961> an evil<7451> report<8034> in order<4616> that they could reproach<2778> me.
14Remember<2142>, O my God<430>, Tobiah<2900> and Sanballat<5571> according to these<428> works<4639> of theirs, and also<1571> Noadiah<5129> the prophetess<5031> and the rest<3499> of the prophets<5030> who<834> were trying to frighten<3372> me.
15So the wall<2346> was completed<7999> on the twenty-fifth<6242><2568> of the month Elul<435>, in fifty-two<2572> days<3117>.
16When<3512> all<3605> our enemies<340> heard<8085> of it, and all<3605> the nations<1471> surrounding<5439> us saw<7200> it, they lost<5307> their confidence<5869>; for they recognized<3045> that this<384> work<4399> had been accomplished<6213> with the help<4480><854> of our God<430>.
17Also<1571> in those<1992> days<3117> many<7235> letters<107> went<1980> from the nobles<2715> of Judah<3063> to Tobiah<2900>, and Tobiah's<2900> letters came<935> to them.
18For many<7227> in Judah<3063> were bound<1167> by oath<7621> to him because<3588> he was the son-in-law<2860> of Shecaniah<7935> the son<1121> of Arah<733>, and his son<1121> Jehohanan<3076> had married<3947> the daughter<1323> of Meshullam<4918> the son<1121> of Berechiah<1296>.
19Moreover<1571>, they were speaking<559> about his good<2899> deeds<2899> in my presence<6440> and reported<3318> my words<1697> to him. Then Tobiah<2900> sent<7971> letters<107> to frighten<3372> me.