1Now 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 ;) 2That 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 . 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? 4Yet 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 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 . 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 made us afraid , saying , Their hands shall be weakened from the work , that it be not done . Now therefore, O God , strengthen my hands .
The Prophecy of Danger
10Afterward 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. 11And 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 . 12And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13Therefore 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. 14My 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 .
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, 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 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 Shechaniah the son of Arah ; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah . 19Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear .