Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:"It is reported among the nations -- and Geshem says it is true -- that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to mak...  Read More

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it -- though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates -- Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: ...  Read More

Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!"At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had prom...  Read More

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields ...  Read More

Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the p...  Read More

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the people is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over "Wherever you turn, they will attack us" Therefore I stat...  Read More