Nehemiah 6#Verse 6

File:CodexGigas 210 Ezra,Nehemiah.jpg

The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 19 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}}{{efn|Since the anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo in 1947, the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the Aleppo Codex.{{citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=New Catholic Encyclopedia | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

As a leader, Nehemiah holds his motives and conduct blameless, but at the same time, he must understand and deal wisely with the opposition 'who seek to compromise God's work'.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=194}}

:{{sup|1}} Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), {{sup|2}} that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm.{{bibleref2|Nehemiah|6:1–2|NKJV}} NKJV

Tobiah is described as an Ammonite in {{bibleref2|Nehemiah|4:3|NKJV}}

• "Geshem": or "Gashmu" (see verse 6).Notes on Nehemiah 6:1 and 6:2 in NKJV
• "Among the villages": or "in Kephirim", exact location unknown.Note [b] on Nehemiah 6:2 in NKJV

Sanballat hoped that Nehemiah would follow the logical action against the rumors of threats, the way he and his allies would do, that is, 'given to ambition, opportunistic maneuvering, and dedicated to self-preservation', but Nehemiah 'refused to become distracted by the ploy of politics' and kept his devotion to God.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=196}}

:Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.{{bibleref2|Nehemiah|6:5|NKJV}} NKJV

Sanballat sent his fifth letter as an open letter, because he is 'well aware of the possibility that popular sentiment will stand behind a claim to restore an independent Judah', and uses it to launch an accusation that Nehemiah is sponsoring prophetic supports (indicating the importance of prophetic authority in Ezra–Nehemiah).{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=320}}

:In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king."{{bibleref2|Nehemiah|6:6|ESV}} ESV

• "Geshem": written in Hebrew as "Gashmu".Note on Nehemiah 6:6 in ESV

In this section, Nehemiah remembers that the will of God is eternal and has primacy over any individual.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=196}}

:Then I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. He was confined to his home. He said, "Let’s set up a time to meet in the house of God, within the temple. Let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. It will surely be at night that they will come to kill you."{{bibleref2|Nehemiah|6:10|NET}} NET Bible

• "Confined to his home": from {{langx|he|עָצ֑וּר}}, {{Strong-number|‘ā-tsūr|H|6113}}, "a secret informer",[https://biblehub.com/text/nehemiah/6-10.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Nehemiah 6:10]. Biblehub or "shut in" (KJV: "shut up"), but the reason for his confinement is not stated, although BDB 783 s.v. {{lang|he|עָצַר}} suggests that 'it had to do with the fulfillment of a vow or was related to an issue of ceremonial uncleanness'.Note [a] on Nehemiah 6:10 in NET Bible

The establishment of fortifications does not provide full security, as continued opposition remains in place;Sub-heading at Nehemiah 6:16 in the New International Version dangers can always threaten the community of faith, but ... the godly character of the people is the greatest defense against the threats.{{sfn|Larson|Dahlen|Anders|2005|p=205}}

:So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|6:15|KJV}} KJV

• "Elul": The month in Hebrew calendar, which is the same as the Assyrian month U-lu-lu and corresponds to the end of August and beginning of September in the Gregorian calendar.Ryle, H. E., Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/nehemiah/6.htm Nehemiah 6], accessed 28 April 2019
• "Fifty and two days" would cover a period from July 25 to September 15, which may correspond to the 25th of Elul.Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/6.htm On "Nehemiah 6".] In: The Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019. The Jerusalem Bible suggests that the completion date may have been early October, 445 BC.Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote j at Nehemiah 6:15

:Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|6:17|KJV}} KJV

• "The nobles" (from Hebrew: {{lang|he|חֹרֵ֤י}}, {{Strong-number|ḥō-rê|H|2715}}) [https://biblehub.com/text/nehemiah/6-17.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Nehemiah 6:17]. Biblehub were the leaders of the Jews; they continued to have correspondence with Tobiah, apparently because there were intermarriages with Tobiah's family. Tobiah continues to be a threat as he is closely related to the people with whom Nehemiah must deal later (see Nehemiah 13).{{sfn|Smith-Christopher|2007|p=320}}

:Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.{{bibleverse|Nehemiah|6:19|NKJV}} KJV

The nobles of Judah acted as intermediaries: they "endeavoured to convince Nehemiah that Tobiah’s professions of goodwill were sincere ... and on the other hand they communicated to Tobiah all that Nehemiah said and did". Anglican commentator H. E. Ryle suggests that their aim was to supply Tobiah with "material for charges against Nehemiah to be made before the Persian king, or for slanders to the Jewish people".

• Jerusalem
• Prophetess
• Related Bible parts: Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah 13

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{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last= Fensham| first=F. Charles | title=The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah | series=New international commentary on the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition= illustrated | date = 1982 | isbn = 978-0802825278 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfxMeDl6BZgC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Grabbe| first= Lester L.|authorlink= Lester L. Grabbe | chapter = Nehemiah | title=Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible | editor-first1=James D. G.| editor-last1=Dunn |editor1-link = James Dunn (theologian) | editor-first2=John William| editor-last2= Rogerson |editor2-link = John W. Rogerson | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |edition= illustrated | date = 2003 | pages = 320–328| isbn = 978-0802837110 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
• {{cite book|last1= Larson| first1= Knute|last2=Dahlen |first2=Kathy |last3=Anders|first3= Max E. | title=Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther | series= Holman Old Testament commentary|volume= 9 | editor-first=Max E.| editor-last=Anders | publisher = B&H Publishing Group|edition= illustrated | date = 2005 | isbn = 978-0805494693 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4MmHIVtd6r0C | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Levering| first=Matthew | title=Ezra & Nehemiah | series=Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible | publisher = Brazos Press | date = 2007| isbn = 978-1587431616 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYhGQVLlL4IC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= McConville| first=J. G. | title=Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther | series=The daily study Bible : Old Testament | publisher = Westminster John Knox Press | date = 1985 | isbn = 978-0664245832 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhyPOmOzZhoC | access-date=October 28, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Smith-Christopher| first= Daniel L.|authorlink= Daniel L. Smith-Christopher | chapter = 15. Ezra-Nehemiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 308–324 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | authorlink = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Text_of_the_Old_Testament.html?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

• [https://books.google.com/books?id=3PvirfZkfvQC Blenkinsopp, Joseph, "Ezra-Nehemiah: A Commentary" (Eerdmans, 1988)]
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=m1V1DeBS6P0C Blenkinsopp, Joseph, "Judaism, the first phase" (Eerdmans, 2009)]
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=qRw7AAAAIAAJ Coggins, R.J., "The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah" (Cambridge University Press, 1976)]
• [http://www.ronaldecker.com/ezra.html Ecker, Ronald L., "Ezra and Nehemiah"], Ecker's Biblical Web Pages, 2007.
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=S2MSzgZ8DMMC Grabbe, L.L., "Ezra-Nehemiah" (Routledge, 1998)]
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=VK2fEzruIn0C Grabbe, L.L., "A history of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period, Volume 1" (T&T Clark, 2004)]
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=VI1bMiMXLs0C Throntveit, Mark A. (1992) "Ezra-Nehemiah". John Knox Press]

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16513 Nechemiah - Nehemiah - Chapter 6 (Judaica Press)] translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Nehemiah+6 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=16&chapter=6&version=9 Book of Nehemiah Chapter 6. Bible Gateway]

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