Naham'Yahu (Nehemiah) — 6
Continued Opposition to Rebuilding
1 Sanballat, Tubiah, Gasham the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained, though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates.
2 So Sanballat and Gasham sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Unu. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,
3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can not come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand,
6 and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Gasham tells me it is true, that you and the Yahudym are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.
7 He also reports that you have appointed Nabyms in Yahushalam to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Yahudah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”
9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
10 Later I went to visit Shamayahu son of Delayahu and grandson of Mahatabal, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”
11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I will not do it!”
12 I realized that my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tubiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.
14 Remember, O my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, all the evil things that Tubiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Nuadyahu the Nabym and all the Nabyms like her who have tried to intimidate me.
The Builders Complete the Wall
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty fifth day of Alul in fifty two days.
16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.
17 During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tubiah and the nobles of Yahudah.
18 For many in Yahudah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shacanyahu son of Arah, and his son Yahuhanan was married to the daughter of Mashullam son of Barakyahu.
19 They kept telling me about Tubiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tubiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.