Nehemiah 6:17

Verse

Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came back to them.

American Standard Version (1901)

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

And further, in those days the chiefs of Judah sent a number of letters to Tobiah, and his letters came to them.

Moreover in those days many letters were sent by the principal men of the Jews to Tobias, and from Tobias there came letters to them.

Free Bible Version

At that time the nobles of Judah were exchanging many letters with Tobiah,

Geneva Bible 1599

And in these dayes were there many of the princes of Iudah, whose letters went vnto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came vnto them.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

Translation for Translators

During this time, the Jewish leaders had been sending many messages/letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah had been sending messages back to them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

At this time the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.

Noah Webster Bible

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

World English Bible

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Young's Literal Translation

Also, in those days the freemen of Judah are multiplying their letters going unto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah are coming in unto them;

Context

Completion of the Wall

¹⁶When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.¹⁷Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came back to them.¹⁸For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

Summary

In Nehemiah 6:17, we see Nehemiah's enemies spreading false rumors and letters to intimidate him and hinder the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. Despite these attempts to discourage him, Nehemiah remains steadfast in his faith and determination to complete the work God had called him to. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance in the face of opposition and the need to rely on God's strength and guidance to overcome obstacles. Nehemiah's example inspires us to trust in God's faithfulness and continue pursuing His purposes even when faced with challenges.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The nobles of Judah sent many letters - The circumstances marked in this and the following verses show still more clearly the difficulties which Nehemiah had to encounter; he had enemies without and false friends within. A treacherous correspondence was carried on between the nobles of Judah and the Ammonites; and had almost any other man been at the head of the Jewish affairs, Jerusalem had never been re-established.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

To this Nehemiah adds the supplementary remark, that in those days even nobles of Judah were in alliance and active correspondence with Tobiah, because he had married into a respectable Jewish family. Neh 6:17 "Also in those days the nobles of Judah wrote many letters (אגּרתיהם מרבּים, they made many, multiplied, their letters) passing to Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came to them." Neh 6:18 For many in Judah were sworn unto him, for he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken (to wife) the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. In this case Tobiah was connected with two Jewish families, - a statement which is made to confirm the fact that many in Judah were שׁבוּעה בּעלי, associates of an oath, joined to him by an oath, not allies in consequence of a treaty sworn to (Bertheau). From this reason being given, we may conclude his affinity by marriage was confirmed by an oath. Shecaniah ben Arah was certainly a respectable Jew of the race of Arah, Ezr 2:5. Meshullam ben Berechiah appears among those who shared in the work of building, Neh 3:4 and Neh 3:30. According to Neh 13:4, the high priest Eliashib was also related to Tobiah. From the fact that both Tobiah and his son Jehohanan have genuine Jewish names, Bertheau rightly infers that they were probably descended from Israelites of the northern kingdom of the ten tribes. With this the designation of Tobiah as "the Ammonite" may be harmonized by the supposition that his more recent or remote ancestors were naturalized Ammonites. Neh 6:19 "Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him." טּובתיו, the good things in him, or "his good qualities and intentions" (Bertheau). The subject of the sentence is the nobles of Judah. לו מוציאים, they were bringing forth to him. On this matter Bertheau remarks, that there is no reason for assuming that the nobles of Judah endeavoured, by misrepresenting and distorting the words of Nehemiah, to widen the breach between him and Tobiah. This is certainly true; but, at the same time, we cannot further infer from these words that they were trying to effect an understanding between the two, and representing to Nehemiah how dangerous and objectionable his undertaking was; but were by this very course playing into the hands of Tobiah. For an understanding between two individuals, hostile the one to the other, is not to be brought about by reporting to the one what is the other's opinion of him. Finally, Nehemiah mentions also that Tobiah also sent letters to put him in fear (יראני, infin. Piel, like Ch2 32:18; comp. the participle above, Neh 6:9 and Neh 6:14). The letters were probably of similar contents with the letter of Sanballat given in Neh 6:6.

Nehemiah 6:17

Completion of the Wall

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came back to them.

American Standard Version (1901)

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

Bible in Basic English

And further, in those days the chiefs of Judah sent a number of letters to Tobiah, and his letters came to them.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Moreover in those days many letters were sent by the principal men of the Jews to Tobias, and from Tobias there came letters to them.

Free Bible Version

At that time the nobles of Judah were exchanging many letters with Tobiah,

Geneva Bible 1599

And in these dayes were there many of the princes of Iudah, whose letters went vnto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came vnto them.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

Translation for Translators

During this time, the Jewish leaders had been sending many messages/letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah had been sending messages back to them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

At this time the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.

Noah Webster Bible

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

World English Bible

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Young's Literal Translation

Also, in those days the freemen of Judah are multiplying their letters going unto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah are coming in unto them;

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Nehemiah 6:17

Verse

Context

Completion of the Wall

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Nehemiah 6:17

Completion of the Wall

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary