Nehemiah 2 19

Nehemiah 2:19 kjv

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

Nehemiah 2:19 nkjv

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?"

Nehemiah 2:19 niv

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"

Nehemiah 2:19 esv

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?"

Nehemiah 2:19 nlt

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. "What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" they asked.

Nehemiah 2 verses

Nehemiah 2 19 Meaning

Nehemiah 2:19 records the initial direct opposition faced by Nehemiah in his mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Three powerful regional adversaries—Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab—reacted with scorn, contempt, and a grave false accusation of rebellion against the Persian king. This verse marks the pivotal shift from Nehemiah's internal struggles and securing royal permission to open hostility from external enemies, who viewed Jerusalem's restoration as a direct threat to their regional power and influence. Their questions were rhetorical, designed to mock and intimidate, asserting that Nehemiah's divine mission was an act of political defiance.

Nehemiah 2 19 Context

Nehemiah chapter 2 opens with Nehemiah in Susa, burdened by the desolate state of Jerusalem's walls. After praying, he presents his petition to King Artaxerxes, miraculously gaining permission and resources to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild. Upon his arrival, Nehemiah secretly inspects the broken walls by night, gathering crucial information. He then casts his vision to the disheartened Jewish leaders and people, reminding them of God's favor and stirring their commitment to the work. The people's unified resolve to "Arise and build!" (v. 18) culminates this phase. Verse 19 immediately follows this moment of hopeful recommitment, introducing the antagonists whose opposition will become a persistent theme throughout the book. This verse serves as the turning point, marking the beginning of external challenges that escalate from verbal abuse to attempted physical and political obstruction. Historically, the rebuilding of Jerusalem often faced opposition, as powerful neighboring officials saw a strong, rebuilt Jewish capital as a threat to their own regional power base within the vast Persian Empire. The accusation of "rebelling against the king" was the most severe possible charge under Persian rule, a charge that had previously halted the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 4).

Nehemiah 2 19 Word analysis

• But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab:

  • Sanballat (סַנְבַלַּט֙ - Sanballaṭ): Governor of Samaria, Jerusalem's powerful northern neighbor. His primary concern was maintaining his authority and preventing the rise of a rival Jewish state which could challenge his political and economic influence in the region.
  • Horonite (הַחֹרֹנִ֜י - haḥōrōnī): Likely refers to Horonaim in Moab, implying his origin, or to Beth-Horon in Samaria, indicating his geographic sphere of influence. He was a dominant figure in Samaria.
  • Tobiah (טוּבִיָּה֙ - Ṭūḇiyyāh): An influential Ammonite, identified as an "official" (הָעֶ֘בֶד֙ - hā‘eḇeḏ, lit. "the servant" or "the slave," but in this context, "official" or "courtier"). His family had extensive ties and influence within Judean aristocracy (Neh 6:17-18, 13:4), making his opposition particularly insidious as he wielded power from within. He aimed to keep Jerusalem subservient and weak.
  • Ammonite (הָעַמּוֹנִ֣י - hā‘ammōnī): From the land of Ammon, east of the Jordan, a traditional enemy of Israel.
  • Geshem (גֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ - Gešem): An Arabian chieftain, ruling vast territories from southern Palestine to northern Arabia. He represents the southern and eastern threat. His economic interests lay in controlling trade routes, and a strong Jerusalem might divert this control.
  • Arab (הָֽעַרְבִּי֙ - hā‘arbbī): Indicates his identity as a powerful figure among the Arabian tribes.
  • Significance: These three men formed a powerful political and military coalition, strategically surrounding Judea from north, east, and south. Their opposition was not random but a calculated move by regional strongmen whose self-interest was threatened by Jerusalem's rebuilding. They embody spiritual forces arrayed against God's purposes, often acting through human agency and political maneuvering.

• heard about it: (שָׁמְע֤וּ - šām‘û from shamah) Implies not just hearing physically, but receiving intelligence, taking note, and perceiving the significance of Nehemiah's activities. Their hearing led directly to their negative action.

• they scoffed at us: (וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ - wayyal‘îḡū from la‘ag) Means to mock, deride, treat with scorn. This is verbal abuse aimed at demoralizing the builders, minimizing the significance of their work, and casting doubt on its legitimacy and feasibility. It's an attack on dignity and resolve.

• and despised us: (וַיָּבִ֤זוּ - wayyāḇīzū from bazah) Means to look upon with contempt, disdain, or utter disregard. It indicates a deep-seated contempt for the Jewish people and their endeavor, seeing them as weak, insignificant, and unworthy of rebuilding. This expresses their conviction that the Jews lacked the authority or capacity for such a grand project.

• and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? (מָה־הַדָּבָר֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אַתֶּ֖ם עֹשִֽׂים)

  • This is a rhetorical question filled with scorn and challenge. It questions the authority, wisdom, and very purpose of Nehemiah's actions. It implies "What foolish, unauthorized, and futile thing are you attempting?" They see the work as meaningless or a misapplication of energy, from their earthly perspective.

• Are you rebelling against the king?" (הַמּוֹרְדִים֙ אַתֶּ֖ם בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ)

  • Rebelling (הַמּוֹרְדִים֙ - hammôrdîm from marad): To revolt, to be rebellious, to throw off authority. This was a direct and extremely serious accusation. In the Persian Empire, any hint of rebellion or unauthorized fortification building was met with swift and brutal force.
  • Significance: This was not a casual question but a dangerous threat. It implies they might report this perceived rebellion to the Persian court, seeking royal intervention to halt the work, and potentially have Nehemiah and his people punished severely. This accusation reveals their true motive: to stop God's work by any means necessary, including political slander.

Nehemiah 2 19 Bonus section

• The collective opposition of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem reflects the constant spiritual warfare that accompanies any divinely appointed task. It often comes from multiple directions and can involve powerful individuals or coalitions.
• The psychological warfare (scoffing and despising) aims to instill fear and doubt, undermining confidence and solidarity. This is a common strategy to distract and discourage believers from their mission.
• The accusation of "rebellion" is a form of 'projection,' where the enemies project their own rebellious or self-serving intentions onto God's faithful servants, seeking to discredit legitimate, God-ordained activity through misrepresentation.
• Nehemiah's calm and faith-filled response in the following verse (v. 20) is pivotal; he does not engage the slander but trusts in God and rejects their false claims and right to participate in God's work.

Nehemiah 2 19 Commentary

Nehemiah 2:19 succinctly encapsulates the essence of opposition to God's work. The mention of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem is crucial; they represent a coordinated front of powerful individuals who perceived Jerusalem's revival as a threat to their established order and spheres of influence. Their reactions—scoffing and despising—are classic tactics of the adversary: to ridicule and demean, aiming to demoralize those attempting to advance God's kingdom. This isn't merely political disagreement; it’s an spiritual resistance manifested through human agents.

The core of their opposition solidifies with the accusation, "Are you rebelling against the king?" This wasn't an innocent query but a malicious slander. To be accused of rebellion against the mighty Persian emperor was a capital offense and a strategic political maneuver to halt any development in Jerusalem, as any perceived disloyalty would invoke swift imperial wrath. This charge mirrored earlier attempts to stop Jewish restoration (Ezra 4), highlighting a consistent pattern of resistance against God's people throughout history. The enemies didn't care about the truth; they cared about stopping the work. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for a prolonged conflict between the purposes of God, championed by Nehemiah, and the determined resistance of those whose earthly power or interests felt threatened by a thriving Jerusalem. It’s a vivid illustration that significant spiritual endeavors often provoke significant, even insidious, opposition.