Nehemiah 6:10-14

Expanded Bible

¹⁰ ·One day [Then] I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. Shemaiah ·had to stay at [was confined to his; ^Cperhaps related to a vow or to ritual uncleanness] home. He said, “Nehemiah, let’s meet in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of God. Let’s go inside the Temple and ·close [bar] the doors, because men are coming at night to kill you.”

¹¹ But I said, “Should a man like me [^Cin his position] run away? Should I run ·for [to save] my life into the Temple [^Cto seek asylum; Ex. 21:13–14; 1 Kin. 1:50–53; 2:28–34; 2 Chr. 26:16–20; 27:2]? I will not go.” ¹² I ·knew [realized; perceived; recognized] that God had not sent him but that Tobiah and Sanballat had ·paid [hired] him to prophesy against me. ¹³ They ·paid [hired] him to ·frighten [intimidate; terrorize] me so I would do this and sin. Then they could ·give me a bad name to shame [accuse and discredit/blame] me.

¹⁴ I prayed, “My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat and what they have done. Also remember the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who have been trying to ·frighten [intimidate; terrorize] me.”