1
Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no opening left therein (but hitherto I had not set up the doors on the gates);
2
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come and let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they were plotting to do me mischief.
3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I shall not be able to come down, lest the work should cease: as soon as I shall have finished it, I will come down to you.
4
And they sent to me again to this effect; and I sent them word accordingly.
5
Then Sanballat sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
6
And in it was written, It has been reported among the Gentiles that thou and the Jews are planning to revolt: therefore thou art building the wall, and thou wilt be a king to them.
7
And moreover thou hast appointed prophets to thyself, that thou mightest dwell in Jerusalem as a king over Judah: and now these words will be reported to the king. Now then, come, let us take counsel together.
8
And I sent to him, saying, It has not happened according to these words, even as thou sayest, for thou framest them falsely out of thy heart.
9
For all were trying to alarm us, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from this work, and it shall not be done. Now therefore I have strengthened my hands.
10
And I came into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, and he was shut up; and he said, Let us assemble together in the house of God, in the midst of it, and let us shut the doors of it; for they are coming by night to slay thee.
11
And I said, Who is the man that shall enter into the house, that he may live?
12
And I observed, and, behold, God had not sent him, for the prophecy was a fable devised against me:
13
and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired against me a multitude, that I might be frightened, and do this, and sin, and become to them an ill name, that they might reproach me.
14
Remember, O God, Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their deeds, and the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who tried to alarm me.
15
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations round about us feared, and great alarm fell upon them, and they knew that it was of our God that this work should be finished.
17
And in those days letters came to Tobiah from many nobles of Judah, and those of Tobiah came to them.
18
For many in Judah were bound to him by oath, because he was son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and Jehohanan his son had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.
19
And they reported his words to me, and carried out my words to him: and Tobiah sent letters to terrify me.