SanbalLatin Tobiah. See notes on Nehemiah 2:19 ; Nehemiah 4:7 . and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Geshem. Another spelling in Sanballat's letter (Nehemiah 6:6 ), Gashmu. read more
ONE FINAL EFFORT MADE BY NEHEMIAH'S ENEMIES;FIVE SUCCESSIVE ATTEMPTS TO GET NEHEMIAH IN THEIR POWER"Now 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), that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they... read more
The plot to distract Nehemiah 6:1-4The plain of Ono, to which Nehemiah’s adversaries invited him for a meeting (Nehemiah 6:2), lay about 25 miles west and a little north of Jerusalem near Ashdod and Judah’s border with Samaria. Israel’s present international airport at Lod, just east of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast, is very close to this site. It was in a kind of no-man’s land between Judah and Samaria. If Nehemiah had accepted this invitation he would have been many miles from Jerusalem... read more
4. The attacks against Nehemiah 6:1-14Nehemiah recorded three separate plots the Jews’ enemies instigated to frustrate his effective leadership. read more
Attempts of Sanballat to hinder the completion of the Walls2. Ono] near Lod (Ezra 2:33), now Kefr Ana, some 25 m. from Jerusalem. 5. An open letter] in order that its contents might reach and intimidate others. 6. According to these words] better, ’and so forth’ (and so in Nehemiah 6:7), the quotation from the letter in Nehemiah 6:6 ending with king.10. Who was shut up] perhaps meaning ’ceremonially unclean’: cp. Jeremiah 36:5. Shemaiah probably hoped that Nehemiah would conclude that only for... read more
(1) And the rest of our enemies.—The Three always have the pre-eminence.The doors upon the gates.—Within the gates. This parenthesis is a note of historical accuracy, and intimates that what had been before said as to the setting up of the doors (see Nehemiah 3:0) was by way of anticipation. read more
A Great Work Nehemiah 6:3 There are three thoughts in these words: a work greatness and elevation. They are exactly the three thoughts which every earnest man has about religion. They are exactly the three things which a man needs. An object a feeling that his object is worthy and a sense of height, which lifts him up, and does him good. 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.' It is so essential that you should feel the greatness and the dignity of the 'work' to which you are... read more
WISE AS SERPENTSNehemiah 6:1-19OPEN opposition had totally failed. The watchful garrison had not once permitted a surprise. In spite of the persistent malignity of his enemies, Nehemiah had raised the walls all round the city till not a breach remained anywhere. The doors had yet to be hung at the great gateways, but the fortification of Jerusalem had proceeded so far that it was hopeless for the enemy to attempt any longer to hinder it by violence. Accordingly the leading antagonists changed... read more
CHAPTER 6 1. The attempt to entice Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:1-4 ) 2. The attempt to intimidate him (Nehemiah 6:5-9 ) 3. The attempt through a false prophet (Nehemiah 6:10-14 ) 4. The wall finished (Nehemiah 6:15-16 ) 5. The conspiracy between Jewish nobles and Tobiah (Nehemiah 6:17-19 ) Nehemiah 6:1-4 . Defeated in all previous efforts to hinder the work and to do harm to the builders of the wall, the enemies made new attempts to make them cease from the work. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 6:1-19
The wall completed (6:1-7:73)With the wall nearing completion, the enemies saw that their only hope lay in getting rid of Nehemiah himself. They tried to draw him out into the country where they could murder him, but Nehemiah was aware of their tricks (6:1-4). They then spread rumours, by means of an open letter, that Nehemiah was planning a revolt against Persia, but their efforts came to nothing (5-9).The enemies thought of yet another plan. They tried to make Nehemiah act in a way that would... read more