HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 802
N EH EMIA H 6
included one ox, six choice sheep or goats,
and a large number of poultry. And every ten
days we needed a large supply of all kinds of
wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food
allowance because the people already carried
a heavy burden.
19 Remember,
O my God, all that I have done
for these people, and bless me for it.
Continued Opposition to Rebuilding
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem 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 Geshem sent a
message asking me to meet them at one of the
villages* in the plain of Ono.
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’t 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:
6
“There is a rumor among the surrounding
nations, and Geshem* tells me it is true,
that you and the Jews 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 prophets in Jerusalem to
proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king
in Judah!’
“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.”
8I
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 Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was
confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet
together inside the Temple of God 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 won’t do it!” 12 I realized that God had not
spoken to him, but that he had uttered this
prophecy against me because Tobiah 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.
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14 Remember, O my God, all the evil things
that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And
remember Noadiah the prophet and all
the prophets like her who have tried to
intimidate me.
The Builders Complete the Wall
15 So on October 2* the wall was finished—just
fifty-two days after we had begun. 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 God.
17 During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and
the nobles of Judah. 18 For many in Judah had
sworn allegiance to him because his fatherin-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his
son Jehohanan was married to the daughter
of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 They kept
telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and
then they told him everything I said. And
Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to
intimidate me.
7
After the wall was finished and I had set
up the doors in the gates, the gatekeepers,
singers, and Levites were appointed. 2 I gave
the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my
brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man
who feared God more than most. 3 I said to them,
“Do not leave the gates open during the hottest
part of the day.* And even while the gatekeepers
are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors.
Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as
guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will
serve at sentry posts and some in front of their
own homes.”
Nehemiah Registers the People
4 At that time the city was large and spacious,
but the population was small, and none of the
houses had been rebuilt. 5 So my God gave me
the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens,
for registration. I had found the genealogical
record of those who had first returned to Judah.
This is what was written there:
6 Here
is the list of the Jewish exiles of the
provinces who returned from their captivity.
King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them
to Babylon, but now they returned to
Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah
where they originally lived. 7 Their leaders
were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah,
6:2 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads at Kephirim.
6:6 Hebrew Gashmu, a variant spelling of Geshem. 6:9 As
in Greek version; Hebrew reads But now to strengthen my
hands. 6:15 Hebrew on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul,
of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was October 2,
445 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. 7:3 Or Keep the gates of
Jerusalem closed until the sun is hot.