Sanballat’s Conspiracy

1And it came to pass, when it was heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies, that I had rebuilt the wall, and there were left in it no breaks (though at that time the doors I had not hung in the gates), 2that Sanballat sent, and Geshem, to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together among the villages† on the plain† of Ono.”

And they were thinking to do to me harm.

3And I sent to them messengers, saying, “I am doing a great work, and I am not able to come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you⁺?”

4And they sent to me this word four times, and I answered them according to this word.

5And Sanballat sent to me according to this word the fifth time, his servant with an open letter in his hand, 6written in it:

“Among the nations it is reported, and Gashmu† says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; upon thus you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words. 7And also you have appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And these words will be reported to the king; and now come and let us counsel together.”

8And I sent to him, saying, “These things are not being done as you say, but you are inventing them in your own heart.”

9For all of them were frightening us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”

And now, strengthen my hands.

10And I came to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, and he was confined. And he said,

“Let us meet together in the house of God,

in the midst of the temple,

and let us close the doors of the temple.

For they are coming in to kill you,

and by night they are coming in to kill you.”

11And I said, “Should a man like me flee? And who is like me, who would go into the temple and live? I will not go in.”

12And I perceived, and behold, God had not sent him, for in the prophecy that he pronounced against me, both Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act this way and sin, that it might be to them for an evil name, that they might reproach me.

14Be mindful, O My God, of Tobiah and of Sanballat according to these their works, and of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.

Completion of the Wall

15And the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul,† on the fifty-second day. 16And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard, and all the nations who were around us saw, that they fell greatly in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

17Also in those days, the nobles of Judah multiplied their letters going to Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came to them. 18For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law to Shechaniah son of Arah, and Jehohanan his son had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

19Also his good deeds they were reporting before me, and my words were reported to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.