Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Nehemiah 6
Nehemiah 6:3I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
Nehemiah's famous reply shows his clear sense of purpose. He refuses to be drawn into a pointless and dangerous distraction because he understands the importance of his work.Nehemiah 6:9For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
Facing a barrage of threats designed to paralyze the workers with fear, Nehemiah's immediate response is a simple, powerful prayer. He turns his anxiety into a request for divine strength to keep going.Nehemiah 6:15-16So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
This is the climax of the rebuilding story. The wall's completion in a remarkably short time silences the opposition and forces them to admit that God was the one who made it happen.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Final Hurdle: A Wall Without Gates
The wall around Jerusalem is almost finished. After overcoming external ridicule and internal injustice, the physical structure is secure, with no gaps left. However, a critical step remains: hanging the heavy doors in the city gates. This final phase represents a point of vulnerability, and Nehemiah's enemies - Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem - recognize this is their last chance to stop the project and neutralize Jerusalem's leader.
A Campaign of Fear and Deception
Sensing their time is running out, the opposition escalates its tactics dramatically. They move from general mockery to a multi-pronged attack aimed directly at Nehemiah. Their strategy involves personal threats disguised as peace talks, a public slander campaign to incite political trouble with Persia, and finally, hiring prophets within Jerusalem to give Nehemiah treacherous, fear-based advice. The battle shifts from the wall itself to the heart and mind of its leader.
Resisting the Enemy's Final Plots
With the wall nearly complete, Nehemiah 6 unfolds as a series of intense, personal attacks designed to halt the work at the last minute. The enemies first try to lure Nehemiah into a trap, then attempt to frame him for treason, and finally use spiritual manipulation to make him compromise his integrity. Throughout these tests, Nehemiah's resolve is on full display as he navigates each threat with wisdom and prayer.
The Trap of Distraction (Nehemiah 6:1-4)
1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.
3 I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
4 They sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
Commentary:
Nehemiah's enemies try to lure him away from his work with a fake meeting, but he refuses to be distracted.
The Weapon of Slander (Nehemiah 6:5-9)
5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
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.
7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”
9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
Commentary:
An enemy spreads false rumors of treason to frighten Nehemiah, who responds with a simple denial and a prayer for strength.
The Betrayal of a False Prophet (Nehemiah 6:10-14)
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night."
11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.”
12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
Commentary:
A hired prophet tries to trick Nehemiah into sinning out of fear, but Nehemiah discerns the trap and stands firm.
Victory and a Lingering Threat (Nehemiah 6:15-19)
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.
18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.
19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
Commentary:
The wall is miraculously completed, causing their enemies to lose heart, but Nehemiah learns that some of his own people are still loyal to his foe.
Core Truths Revealed in the Final Push
The Importance of Focused Purpose
Nehemiah's singular focus on his "great work" is his primary defense. He refuses to be sidetracked by meetings, rumors, or threats because he is utterly convinced of his God-given mission. This chapter teaches that clarity of purpose is a powerful shield against the enemy's attempts to distract and derail us.
Faith as the Antidote to Fear
Every plot in this chapter is designed to make Nehemiah and the people afraid. The enemies believe that if they can instill fear, "their hands will drop from the work." Nehemiah consistently counters fear not with human bravado, but with prayer and a steadfast trust in God's power and protection.
The Necessity of Spiritual Discernment
The final attack comes from a prophet, a seemingly trustworthy source. Nehemiah had to look past the prophecy to the character of the advice, recognizing that God would never counsel him to sin. This highlights the need for discernment - the ability to distinguish between God's voice and deceptive voices, even when they sound spiritual.
Bringing Nehemiah's Resolve into Your Life
It teaches you to respond with calm, simple truth rather than getting drawn into a messy public fight, as seen in Nehemiah 6:8. Nehemiah didn't waste time defending himself against every detail of the lie. He identified it as an invention and immediately turned to God in prayer for strength to continue his work. The ultimate answer to criticism is a finished work that speaks for itself.
You can start by identifying the 'great work' God has called you to, whether it's in your family, career, or ministry. Like Nehemiah, you can learn to say 'no' to distractions that, while perhaps not evil, would pull you away from your primary purpose (Nehemiah 6:3). This requires knowing your priorities and refusing to let lesser things derail you from the most important ones.
Asking God to 'strengthen my hands,' as Nehemiah did in verse 9, is a prayer for renewed resolve and practical ability when you feel like giving up. It’s admitting your own weakness in the face of fear or exhaustion and asking for God's supernatural power to keep building, typing, caring, or serving. It is a prayer for the courage and energy to see a difficult task through to the end.
Faithfulness Finishes the Work
Nehemiah 6 reveals that the closer you get to completing God's work, the more intense and deceptive the opposition becomes. The enemy's goal is to stop progress through distraction, discouragement, and fear. Nehemiah's story is a powerful message that victory is found not in the absence of opposition, but in unwavering focus on the mission and steadfast reliance on God's strength. It shows that a leader's integrity and courage can inspire a community to finish what God has started.
What This Means for Us Today
Nehemiah's story is an invitation to finish the work God has given us, no matter the opposition. It calls us to replace our fear with focused prayer and to trust that God's purpose is greater than any plot against it. Like Nehemiah, we are called to stand firm, refuse to come down from our 'great work,' and watch as God brings it to completion.
- What 'great work' has God called you to that requires your focused attention right now?
- Where are you tempted to 'come down' from your post due to fear, distraction, or criticism?
- How can you, like Nehemiah, turn to God in a moment of pressure and pray, 'strengthen my hands'?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details Nehemiah's handling of internal injustice, which secured the people's loyalty before the final external attacks in chapter 6.
With the wall now complete, Nehemiah moves to organize the city's inhabitants and establish security, showing the next steps after the victory.
Connections Across Scripture
Paul's description of the 'full armor of God' provides a New Testament framework for understanding the spiritual nature of the opposition Nehemiah faced.
The Apostle Paul lists the intense and varied opposition he faced, showing a similar pattern of external dangers and betrayal from 'false believers'.
This Psalm reflects Nehemiah's attitude, expressing confidence in God and a refusal to be afraid even when enemies advance.
Historical Context
This chapter describes the initial opposition the returning exiles faced years earlier, setting the historical stage for the animosity from leaders like Sanballat.
Discussion Questions
- Nehemiah's enemies tried distraction, slander, and fear. Which of these tactics do you find most challenging in your own life, and why?
- Nehemiah recognized Shemaiah's prophecy was false because it contradicted God's law and character (Nehemiah 6:11-12). How can we develop that kind of spiritual discernment today?
- The wall was completed in only 52 days, and even the enemies knew God was behind it. Can you share an experience where the outcome of a situation was a clear sign of God's help?
Glossary
figures
Sanballat the Horonite
The governor of Samaria and a chief antagonist who relentlessly opposed Nehemiah's efforts to rebuild Jerusalem's walls.
Tobiah the Ammonite
An Ammonite official who, along with Sanballat, mocked, threatened, and conspired against Nehemiah.
Geshem the Arab
An influential Arab leader who joined Sanballat and Tobiah in their opposition to Nehemiah.
Shemaiah
A prophet in Jerusalem who was hired by Tobiah and Sanballat to deceive Nehemiah with a false, fear-mongering prophecy.