Sanballat

9So I went to the governors west of the great river. I gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and soldiers on horses with me.

Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

NoteSoldiers came along to keep Nehemiah safe on the long road. They also showed everyone that the king had truly sent him.

10Sanballat from Horon and Tobiah, an Ammonite official, heard about this. It upset them very much. They did not like that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

NoteAmmon was a land close to Judah. An official is someone with an important job for a ruler. These men ruled places near Jerusalem. A strong Jerusalem would make them less important.

17Then I said to them, "You can see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates are burned. Come, let us build the wall again. Then people will not shame us anymore."

Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

NoteA city with no wall was easy for enemies to attack. Other people made fun of a city like that. That is the shame Nehemiah is talking about.

18I told them how kind God had been to me. I also told them what the king had said. They answered, "Let's get up and build." So they got ready for this good work.

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

19But Sanballat from Horon, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about it. They laughed at us and made fun of us. They said, "What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?"

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

NoteArabs lived in lands to the south and east of Judah. Saying someone was turning against the king was very serious. People could be punished hard for that.

20I answered them, "The God of heaven will help us do well. We are his servants, and we will build. But this city is not yours. You have no share in Jerusalem and no claim here."

Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

1Sanballat heard that we were building the wall again. He got very angry. He made fun of the Jews.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

NoteCities long ago had a tall stone wall around them. The wall kept enemies out. Jerusalem's wall had been knocked down years before. Sanballat was a powerful man who lived nearby. He did not want the wall built again. The Jews were God's people, come home to Jerusalem at last.

2He talked in front of his friends and the army of Samaria. He said, "What are these weak Jews doing? Can they really build this wall? Will they offer sacrifices to God? Will they finish it in one day? Can they make burned stones new again from these piles of trash?"

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

NoteSamaria was a land just north of Jerusalem. To offer a sacrifice means to give God a gift, often an animal. People did this to say sorry or thank you. The stones were black and cracked because enemies had burned the city long before.

3Tobiah from Ammon was standing next to him. He said, "Even a fox could climb on their wall. It would fall right down!"

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

NoteAmmon was a land east of Jerusalem. Tobiah is saying the wall is so weak a little animal could push it over. He is making a joke to hurt them.

4Nehemiah prayed: "Listen, our God. People look down on us. Turn their mean words back on them. Let them be taken away to a far land."

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

NoteYears before, enemies took the Jews far away from home. They had to live in another land for a long time. Nehemiah is asking God to let that happen to these men instead.

5"Do not cover up the wrong they have done. Do not wipe their sin away from your sight. They have made fun of us while we build."

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

NoteSin means doing what is wrong. To wipe sin away means to forgive it and forget it.

6So we kept building the wall. The whole wall was joined together. It stood half as tall as it should be. The people really wanted to work.

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7Then Sanballat and Tobiah heard more news. So did the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod. They heard the wall was going up. They heard the holes were being filled in. This made them very angry.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

NoteAshdod was a city near the sea, west of Jerusalem. The Arabs lived in the dry lands to the south. All these neighbors lived close by and did not want a strong Jerusalem.

8They all made a secret plan together. They would come and fight against Jerusalem. They wanted to stop the work.

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9But we prayed to our God. We also set guards to watch day and night.

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

NoteA guard is someone who watches for danger and shouts a warning.

10The people of Judah said, "The workers are getting too tired. There is so much broken rock. We will never finish this wall."

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11Our enemies said, "They will not see us coming. We will walk right in. We will kill them and stop the work."

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12Some Jews lived near our enemies. They came and warned us ten times. They said, "They will attack us from every side."

And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

NoteTen times here means again and again. They kept coming back to warn them.

13So I put people behind the lowest parts of the wall. I put them where the wall was weakest. I placed them family by family. They had swords, spears, and bows.

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

NoteEach family stood together in one spot. That way every man was guarding his own people.

14I looked things over. Then I stood up and spoke to the leaders, the officials, and everyone else. I said, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord. He is great and powerful. Fight for your brothers. Fight for your sons and daughters. Fight for your wives and your homes."

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

NoteThe Lord is God's own special name. Leaders and officials were the important men who helped run the city.

15Our enemies found out that we knew their plan. God had stopped it from working. So we all went back to the wall. Each one went back to his own job.

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16From that day on, half of my men did the building. The other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders stood behind all the people of Judah.

And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

NoteArmor is hard clothing that soldiers wear. It keeps swords and arrows from hurting them. A shield is held in the hand to block blows.

17The people built the wall. The workers carried the loads. Each one worked with one hand. Each one held a weapon in the other hand.

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

NoteThey carried heavy stones and dirt to build with. Doing that with one hand is very hard work.

18Every builder wore his sword at his side while he worked. The man with the trumpet stayed right beside me.

For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

NoteThis trumpet was a horn, often made from a ram's horn. Blowing it made a loud sound people could hear far away.

19I said to the leaders, the officials, and everyone else, "This job is very big. We are spread far apart along the wall."

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

20"Listen for the sound of the trumpet. Run to that spot and join us there. Our God will fight for us."

In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

21So we kept working. Half the men held spears the whole time. They started at sunrise and stopped when the stars came out.

So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

NoteThey worked all day long. They began when the sun came up and stopped when it was dark.

22At that same time I told the people something else. "Every man and his helper must sleep inside Jerusalem. Then they can guard us at night and work by day."

Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.

NoteMany workers lived in villages outside the city. Walking home each night took a long time. Staying inside meant they were ready if enemies came.

23So none of us changed out of our clothes. Not me, not my brothers, not my servants, not the guards with me. Each of us kept his weapon close, even when we went for water.

So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

NoteThey slept in their day clothes. That way they could jump up and fight at any moment.

1Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and other enemies heard news. The wall was rebuilt, and no holes were left in it. But Nehemiah had not yet put the doors in the gates.

Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)

NoteSanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were leaders of lands near Jerusalem. They did not want the city to be strong again. A city wall kept enemies out. But a wall needs heavy doors in its gateways. Without doors, people could still walk right in.

2Sanballat and Geshem sent Nehemiah a message. They said, "Come meet us in a village on the plain of Ono." But they were really planning to hurt him.

That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

NoteOno was a flat, open place about a day's walk from Jerusalem. It was far from Nehemiah's helpers and guards. Meeting there alone would have been dangerous for him.

3Nehemiah sent messengers back with this answer. "I am doing a big job, so I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it?"

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

NoteJerusalem sits high on a hill. Leaving the city meant walking downhill. That is why the King James says "come down."

4They sent him the same message four times. Each time he gave them the same answer.

Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

5The fifth time, Sanballat sent his servant with the message. The servant carried a letter that was not sealed shut.

Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

NoteLetters back then were rolled up and sealed with a lump of clay. Only the person it was sent to could open it. This letter had no seal, so anyone could read it. Sanballat wanted everyone to hear the lie about Nehemiah.

6The letter said, "People in other lands are talking. Geshem says it too. They say you and the Jews plan to fight the king. They say that is why you are building the wall. They say you want to be their king.

Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

NoteThe King James word "heathen" means people from other nations. The king here is the king of Persia, who ruled all these lands. He was the one who let Nehemiah build the wall. Saying Nehemiah wanted to be king was a serious lie.

7You even picked prophets to tell people in Jerusalem, 'Judah has a king!' The king will hear about all this. So come and let us talk it over."

And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

NoteA prophet was someone who said he spoke God's words to people. If real prophets were calling Nehemiah king, the Persian king would be angry.

8Nehemiah sent back this answer. "None of that is true. You are making it up in your own head."

Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

9They were all trying to make the workers afraid. They hoped the people would grow tired and stop building. So Nehemiah prayed, "My God, make my hands strong."

For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Note"Strengthen my hands" was a way of saying, "Help me keep working." Tired, weak hands meant giving up on a job.

10Later Nehemiah went to see Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel. Shemaiah was shut inside his house. He said, "Let us hide inside God's temple and lock the doors. Men are coming to kill you tonight!"

Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

NoteThe temple was God's special house in Jerusalem. Only priests, the men who served God there, could go inside the building. For anyone else to hide in there was breaking God's rule.

11Nehemiah said, "Should a man like me run away? Should a man like me hide in the temple to stay alive? I will not go in."

And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

NoteNehemiah was not a priest. Running inside the temple would have been wrong. It would also have made him look like a coward.

12Nehemiah understood that God had not sent Shemaiah. Shemaiah spoke against him because Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him.

And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13They paid him to scare Nehemiah into hiding. Then Nehemiah would have done wrong. Then they could spread a bad story and shame him.

Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14Nehemiah prayed, "My God, remember what Tobiah and Sanballat have done. Remember Noadiah the prophetess too, and the other prophets who tried to scare me."

My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

NoteA prophetess was a woman who said she spoke God's words. Noadiah was using that job to help Nehemiah's enemies.

28One of the sons of Joiada had married the daughter of Sanballat from Horon. Joiada was the son of Eliashib, the high priest, the chief priest of all. So I drove that man away from me.

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

NoteThe high priest was the most important priest of all. Sanballat was a leader nearby who fought against Nehemiah's work.

29Remember them, my God. They have spoiled the holy work of the priests. They have broken the promise God made with the priests and the Levites.

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

NoteA promise like this one is called a covenant. It is an agreement both sides must keep.

30So I made the priests and Levites clean from every foreign thing. I gave each one his own job to do.

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;