1Now it came to pass , when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah , and to Geshem the Arabian , and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall , and that there was no breach left therein ( though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates ), 2that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me , saying, Come , let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief . 3And 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 ? 4And they sent unto me four times after this sort ; and I answered them after the same manner .
The Accusation of Rebellion
5Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand , 6wherein was written , It is reported among the nations , and Gashmu saith it , that thou and the Jews think to rebel ; for which cause thou art building the wall : and thou wouldest be their king , according to these words . 7And 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 . 8Then I sent unto him , saying , There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart . 9For they all would have made us afraid , saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work , that it be not done . But now , O God , strengthen thou my hands .
The Prophecy of Danger
10And I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel , 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. 11And I said, Should such a man as I flee ? and who is there, that , being such as I , would go into the temple to save his life ? I will not go in . 12And I discerned , and , lo , God had not sent him ; but he pronounced this prophecy against me : and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him . 13For this cause 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 . 14Remember , O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works , and also the prophetess Noadiah , and the rest of the prophets , that would have put me in fear .
Completion of the Wall
15So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days . 16And it came to pass , when all our enemies heard thereof , that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes ; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. 17Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah , and the letters of Tobiah came unto them . 18For there were many in Judah sworn unto him , because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife. 19Also they spake of his good deeds before me , and reported my words to him . And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear .