Nehemiah 6:1-6

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled

6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),^{(A) 2} Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together in one of the villages^[a] in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.^{(B) 3} So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?” ⁴ They sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. ⁵ In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. ⁶ In it was written, “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem^[b] also says it—that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall; and according to this report you wish to become their king.^(C)