History · Chapter 6 of 13

Nehemiah 6

With the wall nearly finished, the enemies shift tactics, trying to lure Nehemiah into a trap under pretense of a meeting, then to intimidate him with a threatening letter accusing him of plotting rebellion, and finally to frighten him into sinning by hiding in the temple. Nehemiah sees through each scheme, refuses, prays for strength, and the wall is completed in fifty two days.

What happens in Nehemiah 6

As the wall stands finished except for the doors, Sanballat and Geshem invite Nehemiah to meet in the plain of Ono, intending harm. Four times he refuses, saying he is doing a great work and cannot come down. A fifth message comes as an open letter charging that Nehemiah is building the wall to make himself king and rebel against Persia, meant to frighten him. He answers that these things are invented and prays for strong hands. Then a man named Shemaiah, secretly hired, urges Nehemiah to hide inside the temple to escape assassins.

Nehemiah refuses, recognizing that fleeing and misusing the temple would be sin, and discerns that God had not sent this prophet. The wall is completed in just fifty two days. The surrounding nations are dismayed, perceiving that the work was done with God's help. The chapter ends noting Tobiah's continued intimidation through allied nobles.

Nehemiah 6 in context

This chapter completes the wall building against a final wave of opposition, now aimed personally at Nehemiah rather than the workers. The enemies try deception, slander, and a corrupted prophet who counsels a fearful, faithless act. The invitation to Ono and the accusation of seeking kingship were attempts to remove or discredit Nehemiah with the Persian court.

His discernment and steadfastness under pressure carry the project to completion, and the swift finish testifies, even to enemies, that God was at work.

Main themes of Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah 6 (KJV)

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. 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. 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. 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.

Verses to carry from Nehemiah 6

“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?”Nehemiah 6:3

“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.”Nehemiah 6:9

“So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.”Nehemiah 6:15

Reflection

Opposition does not always come as an obvious attack; sometimes it comes as a reasonable invitation, a frightening rumor, or even religious advice. Like Nehemiah, stay anchored to the work God has clearly given you, and test every voice that would pull you off course.

Ask whether it fits God's character. Then, undistracted, finish the wall.

A prayer from Nehemiah 6