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Plots Against Nehemiah and His Steadfastness

Nehemiah 6:1-14

6
Chapter 6
1 And it happened when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that no breach remained in it. 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in the cultic places in the cultic valley of Ono." But they were plotting to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great cultic work, and I am not able to come down. Why should the cultic work cease while I let go and come down to you?" 4 And they sent to me according to this word four times, and I returned them according to this word. 5 Sanballat sent his boy to me with an open letter in his hand a fifth time, in this way. 6 It is written in it among the nations: It has been heard, and Geshem said, "You and the Jews intend to rebel; therefore you are building the wall, and you are to be their king, according to these words." 7 You have also set up prophets to proclaim about you in Jerusalem, "There is a king in Judah." And now it will be heard by the king according to these words. And now, come, and let us take counsel together. 8 I sent messengers to him, saying, "Things will not happen according to these words that you are saying, for you are inventing them out of your own heart." 9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, saying, "Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it will not be done." Now strengthen my hands. 10 And I came to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, and he confined me and said, "It is appointed to the house of God in the midst of the temple, and let the doors of the temple be shut, for they are coming to kill you; yes, at night they are coming to kill you." 11 And she said, "Should a woman like me flee? And who is there like me, that I should come into the temple and live? I will not come." 12 And I knew, and behold, God had not sent them, for the prophecy was a word against me, and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired them. 13 so that he was hired so that I would fear and do so and I would sin and it would be to them a name of evil so that they would reproach me. 14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these his deeds, and also Noadiah the prophet and the rest of the prophets who were making me afraid.