New American Standard Bible 1995

Nehemiah 6

The Enemy’s Plot

1Now whenH3512it was reportedנִשְׁמַ֣עnish.Ma'H8085to Sanballatלְסַנְבַלַּ֣טle.san.va.LatH5571,Tobiahוְ֠טוֹבִיָּהVe.toi.yahH2900,to Geshemוּלְגֶ֨שֶׁםu.le.Ge.shemH1654the Arabהָֽעַרְבִ֜יha.'ar.ViH6163and to the restוּלְיֶ֣תֶרu.le.Ye.terH3499of our enemiesH340that I had rebuiltבָנִ֙יתִי֙va.Ni.tiH1129the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346, and thatnoH3808breachפָּ֑רֶץPa.retzH6556remainedנ֥וֹתַרNo.tarH3498in it,althoughגַּ֚םgamH1571at that timeהָעֵ֣תha.'EtH6256I had not setהֶעֱמַ֥דְתִּיhe.'e.Mad.tiH5975up the doorsדְּלָת֖וֹתde.la.TotH1817in the gatesבַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃va.she.'a.RimH8179,

2then Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֤טsan.va.LatH5571and Geshemוְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ve.Ge.shemH1654sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971a messageto me, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Comeלְכָ֞הle.KhahH1980,let us meetוְנִֽוָּעֲדָ֥הve.ni.va.'a.DahH3259togetherH3164atChephirimH3716in the plainבְּבִקְעַ֣תbe.vik.'AtH1237ofOnoאוֹנ֑וֹ'o.NoH207.”But they were planningחֹֽשְׁבִ֔יםcho.she.VimH2803toharmH7463me.

3So I sentוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֨הva.'esh.le.ChahH7971messengersמַלְאָכִים֙mal.'a.KhimH4397to them, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “I am doingעֹשֶׂ֔ה'o.SehH6213a greatגְדוֹלָה֙ge.do.LahH1419workמְלָאכָ֤הme.la.KhahH4399and I cannotוְלֹ֥א אוּכַ֖לve.Lo' 'u.KhalH3201 H3808comeH3381downH3381.Whyלָ֣מָּהLa.mahH4100should the workהַמְּלָאכָה֙ha.me.la.KhahH4399stopתִשְׁבַּ֤תtish.BatH7673whileH3512I leaveאַרְפֶּ֔הָ'ar.Pe.haH7503it and comeH3381downH3381to you?”

4They sentוַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971messagesto me fourאַרְבַּ֣ע'ar.Ba'H702timesפְּעָמִ֑יםpe.'a.MimH6471in thisהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088mannerכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697,and I answeredוָאָשִׁ֥יבva.'a.ShivH7725them in the sameהַזֶּֽה׃ סha.ZehH2088wayכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

5Then Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֜טsan.va.LatH5571sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.LachH7971his servantנַעֲר֑וֹna.'a.RoH5288to me in the sameהַזֶּ֛הha.ZehH2088mannerכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697a fifthחֲמִישִׁ֖יתcha.mi.ShitH2549timeפַּ֥עַםPa.'amH6471with an openפְּתוּחָ֖הpe.tu.ChahH6605letterוְאִגֶּ֥רֶתve.'i.Ge.retH107in his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.

6In it was writtenכָּת֣וּבka.TuvH3789, “It is reportedנִשְׁמָע֙nish.Ma'H8085among the nationsבַּגּוֹיִ֤םba.go.YimH1471, andGashmuוְגַשְׁמ֣וּve.gash.MuH1654saysאֹמֵ֔ר'o.MerH559, thatyou and the Jewsוְהַיְּהוּדִים֙ve.hai.ye.hu.DimH3064are planningחֹשְׁבִ֣יםcho.she.VimH2803to rebelלִמְר֔וֹדlim.RodH4775;thereforeעַל־ כֵּ֛ן'al- kenH5921 H3651you are rebuildingבוֹנֶ֖הvo.NehH1129the wallהַחוֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346.And you are to be their kingלְמֶ֔לֶךְle.Me.lekhH4428,according to theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃ha.'E.lehH428reportsכַּדְּבָרִ֖יםka.de.va.RimH1697.

7You have alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571appointedהֶעֱמַ֣דְתָּhe.'e.Mad.taH5975prophetsנְבִיאִ֡יםne.vi.'ImH5030to proclaimלִקְרֹא֩lik.Ro'H7121in Jerusalemבִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֜םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389concerningעָלֶ֨יךָ'a.Lei.khaH5921you, ‘A kingמֶ֚לֶךְMe.lekhH4428is in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֔הbi.hu.DahH3063!’And nowוְעַתָּה֙ve.'a.TahH6258it will be reportedיִשָּׁמַ֣עyi.sha.Ma'H8085to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428according to theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהha.'E.lehH428reportsכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםka.de.va.RimH1697.So comeלְכָ֔הle.KhahH1980nowוְעַתָּ֣הve.'a.TahH6258,let us takeוְנִֽוָּעֲצָ֖הve.ni.va.'a.TzahH3289counselH3289togetherH3164.”

8Then I sentוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֤הva.'esh.le.ChahH7971a messageto him sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Suchהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428thingsכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםka.de.va.RimH1697as you are sayingאוֹמֵ֑ר'o.MerH559have not beenH1961doneH1961, but you areinventingבוֹדָֽאם׃vo.DamH908themin your own mindמִֽלִּבְּךָ֖mi.li.be.KhaH3820.”

9For allכֻלָּ֗םkhu.LamH3605of them were tryingto frightenמְיָֽרְאִ֤יםme.ya.re.'ImH3372us,thinkingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “They will becomeH3027 H7503discouragedH7503 H3027with the workהַמְּלָאכָ֖הha.me.la.KhahH4399and it will not be doneתֵעָשֶׂ֑הte.'a.SehH6213.”But nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258, O God,strengthenחַזֵּ֥קcha.ZekH2388my handsH3027.

10When I enteredבָ֗אתִיVa.tiH935the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Shemaiahשְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧הshe.ma'.YahH8098the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Delaiahדְּלָיָ֛הde.la.YahH1806,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Mehetabelמְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖לme.hei.tav.'ElH4105,whoוְה֣וּאve.Hu'H1931wasconfinedעָצ֑וּר'a.TzurH6113at home, he saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Let us meetנִוָּעֵד֩ni.va.'EdH3259togetherH3259in the houseבֵּ֨יתbeitH1004of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֜יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,withinתּ֣וֹךְTokhH8432the templeהַֽהֵיכָ֗לha.hei.KhalH1964,and let us closeוְנִסְגְּרָה֙ve.nis.ge.RahH5462the doorsדַּלְת֣וֹתdal.TotH1817of the templeהַהֵיכָ֔לha.hei.KhalH1964,for they are comingבָּאִ֣יםba.'ImH935to killלְהָרְגֶ֔ךָle.ha.re.Ge.khaH2026you, and they are comingבָּאִ֥יםba.'ImH935to killלְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃le.ha.re.Ge.khaH2026you at nightוְלַ֖יְלָהve.Lay.lahH3915.”

11But I saidוָאֹמְרָ֗הva.'o.me.RahH559, “Should a manהַאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376likeכָּמ֙וֹנִי֙ka.Mo.niH3644me fleeיִבְרָ֔חyiv.RachH1272?And could one suchכָמ֛וֹנִיkha.Mo.niH3644as I goיָב֥וֹאya.Vo'H935into the templeהַהֵיכָ֖לha.hei.KhalH1964to saveH2421his lifeH2421?I will not goאָבֽוֹא׃'a.Vo'H935in.”

12Then I perceivedוָאַכִּ֕ירָהva.'a.Ki.rahH5234that surelyוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430had not sentשְׁלָח֑וֹshe.la.ChoH7971him, but he utteredדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696hisprophecyהַנְּבוּאָה֙ha.ne.vu.'AhH5016againstעָלַ֔י'a.LaiH5921me because Tobiahוְטוֹבִיָּ֥הve.toi.YahH2900and Sanballatוְסַנְבַלַּ֖טve.san.va.LatH5571had hiredשְׂכָרֽוֹ׃se.kha.RoH7936him.

13He was hiredשָׂכוּר֙sa.KhurH7936for thisלְמַ֤עַןle.Ma.'anH4616reasonלְמַֽעַן־le.ma.'an-H4616,that I might becomeH3372frightenedH3372and actוְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ve.'e.'e.seh-H6213accordinglyכֵּ֖ןkenH3651and sinוְחָטָ֑אתִיve.cha.Ta.tiH2398,so that they might haveוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961an evilרָ֔עRa'H7451reportלְשֵׁ֣םle.ShemH8034in orderלְמַ֖עַןle.Ma.'anH4616that they could reproachיְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃ פye.Cha.re.Fu.niH2778me.

14Rememberזָכְרָ֧הza.khe.RahH2142,O my Godאֱלֹהַ֛י'e.lo.HaiH430,Tobiahלְטוֹבִיָּ֥הle.toi.YahH2900and Sanballatוּלְסַנְבַלַּ֖טu.le.san.va.LatH5571according to theseאֵ֑לֶּה'E.lehH428worksכְּמַעֲשָׂ֣יוke.ma.'a.SavH4639of theirs, and alsoוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571Noadiahלְנוֹעַדְיָ֤הle.no.'ad.YahH5129the prophetessהַנְּבִיאָה֙ha.ne.vi.'AhH5031and the restוּלְיֶ֣תֶרu.le.Ye.terH3499of the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֔יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834were tryingto frightenמְיָֽרְאִ֥יםme.ya.re.'ImH3372me.

The Wall Is Finished

15Sothe wallהַֽחוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346was completedוַתִּשְׁלַם֙va.tish.LamH7999on the twenty-fifthבְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖הbe.'es.Rim va.cha.mi.ShahH6242 H2568of the monthElulלֶאֱל֑וּלle.'e.LulH435,in fifty-twoלַחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםla.cha.mi.ShimH2572daysיֽוֹם׃ פYomH3117.

16WhenH3512allכָּל־kol-H3605our enemiesH340heardשָֽׁמְעוּ֙sha.me.'UH8085of it,and allכָּל־kol-H3605the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙ha.go.YimH1471surroundingסְבִֽיבֹתֵ֔ינוּse.vi.vo.Tei.nuH5439us sawH7200it, theylostוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307their confidenceבְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑םbe.'ei.nei.HemH5869; forthey recognizedוַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּvai.Ye.de.'UH3045that thisH2088workהַמְּלָאכָ֥הha.me.la.KhahH4399had been accomplishedנֶעֶשְׂתָ֖הne.'es.TahH6213with the helpמֵאֵ֣תme.'EtH4480 H854of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430.

17Alsoגַּ֣ם׀gamH1571in thoseהָהֵ֗םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117manyמַרְבִּ֞יםmar.BimH7235lettersאִגְּרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם'i.ge.Ro.tei.HemH107wentהוֹלְכ֖וֹתhol.KhotH1980from the noblesחֹרֵ֤יcho.ReiH2715of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063to Tobiahטוֹבִיָּ֑הtoi.YahH2900,and Tobiah’sלְטוֹבִיָּ֖הle.toi.YahH2900letterscameבָּא֥וֹתba.'otH935to them.

18For manyרַבִּ֣יםra.BimH7227in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֗הbi.hu.DahH3063were boundבַּעֲלֵ֤יba.'a.LeiH1167by oathשְׁבוּעָה֙she.vu.'AhH7621to him becauseH3588he was the son-in-lawחָתָ֥ןcha.TanH2860of Shecaniahלִשְׁכַנְיָ֣הlish.khan.YahH7935the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Arahאָרַ֑ח'a.RachH733,and his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121Jehohananוִֽיהוֹחָנָ֣ןvi.ho.cha.NanH3076had marriedלָקַ֕חla.KachH3947the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Meshullamמְשֻׁלָּ֖םme.shu.LamH4918the sonבֶּ֥ןbenH1121of Berechiahבֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה׃Be.rekh.YahH1296.

19Moreoverגַּ֣םgamH1571,they were speakingאֹמְרִים֙'o.me.RimH559about his goodH2899deedsH2899in my presenceלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440and reportedמוֹצִיאִ֖יםmo.tzi.'ImH3318my wordsוּדְבָרַ֕יu.de.va.RaiH1697to him. Then Tobiahטוֹבִיָּ֖הtoi.YahH2900sentשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971lettersאִגְּר֛וֹת'i.ge.RotH107to frightenלְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי׃le.Ya.re.'E.niH3372me.

The Enemy’s Plot

The Wall Is Finished

Commentaries on Nehemiah 6