Nehemiah 4:1-6

Opposition to the Work

1 1 Now when q Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of r Samaria, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? 2 Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?" 3 q Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building - s if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!" 4 t Hear, O our God, for we are despised. u Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 v Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

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

  1. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:7
    But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.
    Nehemiah 2:10
    But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
    Nehemiah 2:19
    But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 16:24
    He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
  3. Cross References
    Nehemiah 4:1
    Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
  4. Cross References
    Lamentations 5:18
    For Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 123:3 - 4
    Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 79:12
    Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 69:27 - 28
    Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.
    Psalms 109:14 - 15
    May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
    Jeremiah 18:23
    Yet you, O Lord, know all their plotting to kill me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.