Nehemiah Chapter 6
So, when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, along with our other haters, peeped that I had built the wall with no gaps, they were straight up shook. (I hadn’t even slapped on the doors yet, no cap.)
Now 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;)
Out of nowhere, Sanballat and Geshem slid into my DMs, saying, "Yo, let’s catch up in one of the villages in Ono." But they were mad sus, plotting something shady.
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 mischief.
I fired back, "I’m grinding on this major project, no time to dip. Why should I pause the work just to chill with you?"
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?
They hit me up four times trying to flex, and I gave them the same vibe every time.
Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
Sanballat sent his guy to me again, this time with an open letter like, "Yo, check this out."
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
The letter said, "Heard around town is that you and the Jews are plotting a rebellion. That’s why you’re building the wall, to be their king, right?"
Wherein {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. {Gashmu: also called, Geshem}
"Plus, you’ve got prophets in Jerusalem saying there’s a king in Judah. This info is gonna reach the king. So let’s vibe and sort this out."
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.
I shot back, "Ain’t none of that true, you’re just pulling stuff out of thin air."
Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
They were trying to rattle us, saying our hands would weaken from work and the job wouldn’t be finished. So I said, "God, boost my hands, fr."
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.
Later, I rolled up to Shemaiah’s place, and he was all locked up. He was like, "Let’s meet in the temple and lock the doors; they’re coming for you at night."
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.
I was like, "Should I, a dude like me, bail? Who’s really gonna risk it all and bolt into the temple to save their skin? Nah, I’m not doing that."
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.
It hit me that God didn’t send him; he was just spilling the tea for Tobiah and Sanballat.
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.
They hired him to scare me into making a dumb move, so they could roast me later.
Therefore {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.
God, don’t forget Tobiah and Sanballat for their shady antics, and the prophetess Noadiah, plus the other prophets trying to get me nervous.
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.
The wall finally got completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in just fifty-two days. That’s fire!
So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth {day} of {the month} Elul, in fifty and two days.
When all our enemies caught wind of it and the surrounding nations saw what went down, they were super bummed because they realized this was all God’s work.
And 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.
Back then, the nobles of Judah were sending a ton of letters to Tobiah, and he was firing letters back to them.
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and {the letters} of Tobiah came unto them. {sent...: Heb. multiplied their letters passing to Tobiah}
A bunch of folks in Judah were down with him since he was related to Shechaniah, and his son Johanan married Meshullam’s daughter.
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 Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
They were hyping up his good deeds to me and passing along my words to him. Tobiah was really trying to scare me with his letters.
Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. {And} Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. {words: or, matters}