The Minor Prophets: 'Nehemiah Chapter 6, This is a Return to The Theme of Chapter 4 and The Opposition' at Christian Classics Ethereal Library

comment 'Nehemiah 6:3-4, More Requests For a Meeting With Nehemiah' by beemanlee

In this next verse the Opposition seems to be set in drawing out
Nehemiah from the City of David and then on to the Northwest about 27
miles to Kefirim on The Plain of Ono. This Plain is located close to The
Northern Boarders of both Samaria and The City of Ashdod which is not a
very good place to be at for Nehemiah!


The Letter Sanballat sent was not sealed. Anyone was able to read it,
and this was the plan of Sanballat to have it open so that not only the
messenger carrying it would know, but any one who could read would know.


Lets read the next two verses of Nehemiah 6 with Sanballat's message
from Nehemiah,


V3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I [am] doing a great work, so
that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and
go down to you?"
V4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the
same manner.

Nehemiah had his heart into The Work of Rebuilding The Walls and Gates
of Jerusalem. It would be after The Work was done on The Walls and Gates
before Nehemiah would have any time to spare for Diplomatic Work with
any Foreign Embassy no matter how close they were to Judah and
Jerusalem. So until the Doors were hung and the Gates of Jerusalem were
completed would Nehemiah have any time for Embassy Work with Sanballat
or Tobiah. comment 'Nehemiah6:5-6, The Enemies Persist With a Fifth Invitation' by beemanlee

In this next reading we find the Opposition, Sanballat, again sending
his servant a fifth time with another hand written open letter, unsealed
and unrolled to show that he was not being secretive, with an invitation
for Nehemiah to meet him at Kefirim.


Lets read the next two verses of Nehemiah,


V5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time,
with an open letter in his hand.
V6 In it [was] written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem
says, [that] you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to
these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.

In the original writing of this second verse 6 reads something like
this,"It has become known among the nations, and Gashmu(Geshem) the Arab
says this", and: 'This is a confirmation says Geshem, that
you(Nehemiah)desire to become their king'. All this is written as if it
were to be the opening words of the letter to Nehemiah. Several of The
Jewish Scholars point this out; Rashi, Metzudos,Ralbag and Malbim.


This all conjectured by the opposition to draw out Nehemiah to the open
country on The Plains of Ono, at Kefirim.


The next verse 7 is still part of the Sanballat letter to Nehemiah and
we will read about it tomorrow.