Dual Panel1When <01961> Sanballat <05571>, Tobiah <02900>, Geshem <01654> the Arab <06163>, and the rest <03499> of our enemies <0341> heard <08085> that <03588> I had rebuilt <01129> the wall <02346> and no <03808> breach <06556> remained <03498> in it (even though <01571> up to <05704> that time <06256> I had not <03808> positioned <05975> doors <01817> in the gates <08179>),
2Sanballat <05571> and Geshem <01654> sent <07971> word to <0413> me saying <0559>, “Come <01980> on! Let’s set up <03259> a time to meet <03259> together <03162> at Kephirim <03715> in the plain <01237> of Ono <0207>.” Now they <01992> intended <02803> to do <06213> me harm <07451>.
3So I sent <07971> messengers <04397> to <05921> them saying <0559>, “I am engaged <06213> in an important <01419> work <04399>, and I <0589> am unable <03201> <03808> to come down <03381>. Why <04100> should the work <04399> come to a halt <07673> when <0834> I leave <07503> it to come down <03381> to <0413> you?”
4They contacted <0413> <07971> me four <0702> times <06471> in this <02088> way <01697>, and I responded <07725> the same <02088> way <01697> each time.
5The fifth <02549> time <06471> that Sanballat <05571> sent <07971> his assistant <05288> to <0413> me in this <02088> way <01697>, he had an open <06605> letter <0107> in his hand <03027>.
6Written <03789> in it were the following words: “Among the nations <01471> it is rumored <08085> (and Geshem <01654> has substantiated <0559> this) that you <0859> and the Jews <03064> have intentions <02803> of revolting <04775>, and for <05921> this reason <03651> you <0859> are building <01129> the wall <02346>. Furthermore, according to these <0428> rumors <01697> you <0859> are going to become <01933> their king <04428>.
7You have also <01571> established <05975> prophets <05030> to announce <07121> in Jerusalem <03389> on <05921> your behalf, ‘We have a king <04428> in Judah <03063>!’ Now <06258> the king <04428> is going to hear <08085> about these <0428> rumors <01697>. So <06258> come on <01980>! Let’s <03162> talk <03289> about this.”
8I sent <07971> word back to <0413> him, “We are not <03808> engaged <01961> in these <0428> activities <01697> you <0859> are describing <0559>. All of this is a figment <03820> of your <0859> imagination <0908>.”
9All <03605> of them were wanting to scare <03372> us, supposing, “Their hands <03027> will grow slack <07503> from <04480> the work <04399>, and it won’t <03808> get done <06213>.” So now <06258>, strengthen <02388> my hands <03027>!
10Then I <0589> went <0935> to the house <01004> of Shemaiah <08098> son <01121> of Delaiah <01806>, the son <01121> of Mehetabel <04105>. He <01931> was confined <06113> to his home. He said <0559>, “Let’s set up a time to meet <03259> in <0413> the house <01004> of God <0430>, within <08432> the temple <01964>. Let’s close <05462> the doors <01817> of the temple <01964>, for <03588> they are coming <0935> to kill <02026> you. It will surely be at night <03915> that they will come <0935> to kill <02026> you.”
11But I replied <0559>, “Should a man <0376> like <03644> me run away <01272>? Would <04310> someone like me <03644> flee <0935> to <0413> the temple <01964> in order to save his life <02425>? I will not <03808> go <0935>!”
12I recognized <05234> the fact that God <0430> had not <03808> sent <07971> him, for <03588> he had spoken <01696> the prophecy <05016> against <05921> me as a hired <07936> agent of Tobiah <02900> and Sanballat <05571>.
13He <01931> had been hired <07936> to scare <03372> me so that <04616> I would do <06213> this and thereby <03651> sin <02398>. They <01992> would thus bring <01961> reproach <07451> on <04616> me and I would be discredited <02778>.
14Remember <02142>, O my God <0430>, Tobiah <02900> and Sanballat <05571> in light of these <0428> actions <04639> of theirs– also <01571> Noadiah <05129> the prophetess <05031> and the other <03499> prophets <05030> who <0834> were <01961> trying to scare <03372> me!
15So the wall <02346> was completed <07999> on the twenty-fifth <02568> <06242> day of Elul <0435>, in just fifty-two <08147> <02572> days <03117>.
16When <0834> <01961> all <03605> our enemies <0341> heard <08085> and all <03605> the nations <01471> who <0834> were around <05439> us saw <07200> this, they were greatly <03966> disheartened <05869> <05307>. They knew <03045> that <03588> this <02063> work <04399> had been accomplished <06213> with <0854> the help of our God <0430>.
17In those <01992> days <03117> the aristocrats <02715> of Judah <03063> repeatedly <07235> sent <01980> letters <0107> to <05921> Tobiah <02900>, and responses from Tobiah <02900> were repeatedly coming <0935> to <0413> them.
18For <03588> many <07227> in Judah <03063> had sworn <07621> <01167> allegiance to him, because <03588> he was the son-in-law <02860> of Shecaniah <07935> son <01121> of Arah <0733>. His son <01121> Jonathan <03076> had married <01323> <03947> the daughter <01323> <03947> of Meshullam <04918> son <01121> of Berechiah <01296>.
19They were <01961> telling <0559> me about his good deeds <02896> and then taking back <03318> to him the things <01697> I said <01697>. Tobiah <02900>, on the other hand, sent <07971> letters <0107> in order to scare <03372> me.