Nehemiah 6:1–9

Conspiracy Against Nehemiah

6 Now it happened awhen Sanballat, Tobiah, 1Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it b(though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and 2Geshem csent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together 3among the villages in the plain of dOno.” But they ethought to do me harm.

3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written:

It is reported among the nations, and 4Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, fthat you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”

9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”

Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.