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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 6
Sanballat engages in intrigue against Nehemiah and the building of the
wall—Jews finish construction of the wall.
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1 Now it came to pass, when aSanballat, 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
amischief.
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?
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1a
Neh. 2:10 (10, 18020)
2a
D&C 10:23 (22-28)
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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
aGashmu 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.
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6a
OR Geshem
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8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as
thou sayest, but thou afeignest 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.
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8a
Alma 55:1
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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
aafraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter
for an bevil 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.
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13a
D&C 3:7 (7-8)
b
TG
slander
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15 ¶ So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day
of the month aElul, in fifty and two days.
16 And it came to pass, that when all our aenemies
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.
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15a
IE the sixth Hebrew month, from
the new moon of September to
that of October
16a
Neh. 2:10;
Neh. 4:7 (1, 7)
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Business As Usual
Though Nehemiah and the Jews who returned with him to Jerusalem had been accompanied by an
army guard of Ataxerxes and all the authorization letters protecting him to the various
governers of the land round about, there was still various confontational groups seeking
the failure of Nehemiah in his task of building up the wall and defenses of Jerusalem. Not
only such as Sanballat a Samaritian leader denoted as being a Horonite (likely an attributed
foreign mixed blooded Israelite of the Samaritians) and the Ammonite (one of those people
descended of Lot) 'servant' Tobiah (most likely a high advisor of Sanballat of the
neighboring Ammonite nation and not just a lowly 'slave'), as well as Gesnem the Arabian
were a party of confederates in league
against Nehemiah from the outside, but also there were the regular 'enemies' from within
of the 'nobles', which would be the ruling edlers and princes of the Jews and also those
who had apparent marriage ties to the high priest of Jerusalem as well were such as the
associated Jewish allies of Sanballat and most often through communication via Tobiah to
avoid any direct charge of being affiliated with the Samaritains directly. It is so reported
that one of the grandsons of the current high priest Eliashib had married a daughter of
Sanballat. And there are those relations also specified in verse 18 below. Thus the political
arena was again so staged with the various factions aligning themselves with foreigners and
not in proper league with the prophet nor even the governor of Jerusalem.
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17 ¶ Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many
letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto
them.a
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 aMeshullam 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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17a Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent
many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them Even
though the various prophets and representatives of the Lord had gained favor and brought
back a number of the Jews to Jerusalem, it was still very much business as usual among the
'nobles', the elder and princes of Jerusalem, that is the governing body of the people in
Jerusalem. And rather than to consult with and follow the voice and lead of God's prophets
in the matter at hand, they were still politically seeking out their places and rule in the
renewed city of Jerusalem as so demonstated by thier many communications back and forth with
such as Tobiah.
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18a
Ezra 8:16
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