Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah

10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said:

Let us meet at the house of God
inside the temple.
Let us shut the temple doors
because they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you tonight![a]

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live?(A) I will not go.” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat(B) had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated,(C) do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.

14 My God, remember(D) Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess(E) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 6:10 Or by night

10 Later I went to see Shemaiah, Delaiah’s son and Mehetabel’s grandson, who was confined to his house, and he said:

“Let’s meet together in God’s house,
    inside the temple itself.
Let’s shut the doors of the temple,
    for they are coming to kill you;
        they are coming to kill you tonight!”

11 But I replied, “Should someone like me run away? Who like me would go into the temple to save his life? I won’t go in!” 12 Then I realized that God hadn’t sent him at all but that he spoke this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired to frighten me and to make me sin by acting in this way. Then they could give me a bad name and discredit me. 14 My God, remember these deeds of Tobiah and Sanballat! Also remember Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to frighten me.

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