1 Now 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;) 2 That 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.
3 And 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? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I
answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant
unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6
Wherein 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. 7 And 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.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are
no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine
own heart.
9 For 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.
10 Afterward 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.
11 And 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. 12 And, lo, I perceived that God had
not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for
Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Therefore 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.
14 My 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.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month
Elul, in fifty and two days. (52 days)
16 And 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.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto
Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. 18 For 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. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me,
and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
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Comments by Joan Boney
Fears come by people carrying fearful thoughts ... Fears come directly to our mind by devils.
In all things prayer is the answer ... laying that fear out in prayer before God ...
If there is anything we need to do, then God will show us. Sometimes there will be no need for us to do anything. But we must hear this from God.