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Prophets and Kings
The infamous counsel given by Shemaiah was seconded by more
than one man of high reputation, who, while professing to be Ne-
hemiah’s friends, were secretly in league with his enemies. But it was
to no avail that they laid their snare. Nehemiah’s fearless answer was:
“Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am,
would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”
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Notwithstanding the plots of enemies, open and secret, the work
of building went steadily forward, and in less than two months from
the time of Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem the city was girded with
its defenses and the builders could walk upon the walls and look down
upon their defeated and astonished foes. “When all our enemies heard
thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things,”
Nehemiah writes, “they were much cast down in their own eyes: for
they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”
Yet even this evidence of the Lord’s controlling hand was not
sufficient to restrain discontent, rebellion, and treachery among the
Israelites. “The nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and
the letters of Tobiah came unto them. For there were many in Judah
sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah.” Here
are seen the evil results of intermarriage with idolaters. A family of
Judah had become connected with the enemies of God, and the relation
had proved a snare. Many others had done the same. These, like the
mixed multitude that came up with Israel from Egypt, were a source
of constant trouble. They were not wholehearted in His service; and
when God’s work demanded a sacrifice, they were ready to violate
their solemn oath of co-operation and support.
Some who had been foremost in plotting mischief against the Jews,
now professed a desire to be on friendly terms with them. The nobles
of Judah who had become entangled in idolatrous marriages, and who
had held traitorous correspondence with Tobiah and taken oath to serve
him, now represented him as a man of ability and foresight, an alliance
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with whom would be greatly to the advantage of the Jews. At the same
time they betrayed to him Nehemiah’s plans and movements. Thus the
work of God’s people was laid open to the attacks of their enemies,
and opportunity was given to misconstrue Nehemiah’s words and acts,
and to hinder his work.
When the poor and oppressed had appealed to Nehemiah for re-
dress of their wrongs, he had stood boldly in their defense and had