61 Now when it was reported to Sanballat , Tobiah , to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall , and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates , 2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying , "Come , let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono ." But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying , "I am doing a great work and I cannot e come down . Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" 4 They sent messages to me four times in this manner , and I answered them in the same way . 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand . 6 In it was written , "It is reported among the nations , and Gashmu says , that you and the Jews are planning to rebel ; therefore e you are rebuilding the wall . And you are to be their king , according to these reports . 7 "You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah !' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports . So come now , let us take counsel together ." 8 Then I sent a message to him saying , "Such things as you are saying have not been done , but you are inventing them in your own mind ." 9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking , "They will become e discouraged e with the work and it will not be done ." But now , O God, strengthen my hands .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 6:1-9
Commentary on Nehemiah 6:1-9
(Read Nehemiah 6:1-9)
Let those who are tempted to idle merry meetings by vain companions, thus answer the temptation, We have work to do, and must not neglect it. We must never suffer ourselves to be overcome, by repeated urgency, to do anything sinful or imprudent; but when attacked with the same temptation, must resist it with the same reason and resolution. It is common for that which is desired only by the malicious, to be falsely represented by them as desired by the many. But Nehemiah knew at what they aimed, he not only denied that such things were true, but that they were reported; he was better known than to be thus suspected. We must never omit any known duty for fear it should be misconstrued; but, while we keep a good conscience, let us trust God with our good name. God's people, though loaded with reproach, are not really fallen so low in reputation as some would have them thought to be. Nehemiah lifted up his heart to Heaven in a short prayer. When, in our Christian work and warfare, we enter upon any service or conflict, this is a good prayer, I have such a duty to do, such a temptation to grapple with; now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Every temptation to draw us from duty, should quicken us the more to duty.