1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors on the gates;) Compare verse1 commentary
2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent to 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. Compare verse
3 And I sent messengers to 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? Compare verse
4 Yet they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Compare verse
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Compare verse
6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu said it, that you and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause you build the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words. Compare verse
7 And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you 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. Compare verse
8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart. Compare verse
9 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. Compare verse1 commentary
10 Afterward I came to 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 you; yes, in the night will they come to slay you. Compare verse1 commentary
11 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. Compare verse
12 And, see, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Compare verse
13 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. Compare verse
14 My God, think you on 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. Compare verse
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. Compare verse1 commentary
16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was worked of our God. Compare verse1 commentary
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. Compare verse
18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. Compare verse
19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. Compare verse