Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).^{[6][lower-alpha 1]}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century).^[8]

Verses 1–2

¹ Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), ² that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm.^[10]

Tobiah is described as an Ammonite in Nehemiah 4:3

• "Geshem": or "Gashmu" (see verse 6).^[11]
• "Among the villages": or "in Kephirim", exact location unknown.^[12]

Verse 5

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.^[14]

Sanballat sent his fifth letter as an open letter, because he is 'well aware of the possibility that popular sentiment will stand behind a claim to restore an independent Judah', and uses it to launch an accusation that Nehemiah is sponsoring prophetic supports (indicating the importance of prophetic authority in Ezra–Nehemiah).^[15]

Verse 6

In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king."^[16]

• "Geshem": written in Hebrew as "Gashmu".^[17]

Verse 10

Then I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. He was confined to his home. He said, "Let’s set up a time to meet in the house of God, within the temple. Let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. It will surely be at night that they will come to kill you."^[18]

• "Confined to his home": from Hebrew: עָצ֑וּר, ‘ā-tsūr, "a secret informer",^[19] or "shut in" (KJV: "shut up"), but the reason for his confinement is not stated, although BDB 783 s.v. עָצַר suggests that 'it had to do with the fulfillment of a vow or was related to an issue of ceremonial uncleanness'.^[20]

Verse 15

So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.^[23]

• "Elul": The month in Hebrew calendar, which is the same as the Assyrian month U-lu-lu and corresponds to the end of August and beginning of September in the Gregorian calendar.^[24]
• "Fifty and two days" would cover a period from July 25 to September 15, which may correspond to the 25th of Elul.^[25] The Jerusalem Bible suggests that the completion date may have been early October, 445 BC.^[26]

Verse 17

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.^[27]

• "The nobles" (from Hebrew: חֹרֵ֤י, ḥō-rê) ^[28] were the leaders of the Jews; they continued to have correspondence with Tobiah, apparently because there were intermarriages with Tobiah's family. Tobiah continues to be a threat as he is closely related to the people with whom Nehemiah must deal later (see Nehemiah 13).^[15]

Verse 19

Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.^[29]

The nobles of Judah acted as intermediaries: they "endeavoured to convince Nehemiah that Tobiah’s professions of goodwill were sincere ... and on the other hand they communicated to Tobiah all that Nehemiah said and did". Anglican commentator H. E. Ryle suggests that their aim was to supply Tobiah with "material for charges against Nehemiah to be made before the Persian king, or for slanders to the Jewish people".^[24]