Opposition to the Work

Nehemiah 4

1 But it so happened, a when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish - stones that are burned?" 3 Now b Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall." 4 c Hear, O our God, for we are despised; d turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 e Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7 Now it happened, f when Sanballat, Tobiah, g the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the 1 gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them h conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless i we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

10 Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall." 11 And our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease." 12 So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us." 13 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, j "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, k great and awesome, and l fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

  1. Cross References
    Nehemiah 2:10
    When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.
    Nehemiah 2:19
    But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?
  2. Cross References
    Nehemiah 2:10
    When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.
    Nehemiah 2:19
    But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?
  3. Cross References
    Psalms 123:3
    Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
    Psalms 123:4
    Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 79:12
    And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
    Proverbs 3:34
    Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 69:27
    Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them not come into Your righteousness.
    Psalms 69:28
    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.
    Psalms 109:14
    Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
    Psalms 109:15
    Let them be continually before the LORD, That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
    Jeremiah 18:23
    Yet, LORD, You know all their counsel Which is against me, to slay me. Provide no atonement for their iniquity, Nor blot out their sin from Your sight; But let them be overthrown before You. Deal thus with them In the time of Your anger.
  6. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:1
    But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.
  7. Cross References
    Nehemiah 2:19
    But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 83:3 - 5
    They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 50:15
    Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 14:9
    "Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."
    Deuteronomy 1:29
    Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them.
  11. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
  12. Cross References
    2 Samuel 10:12
    "Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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