Nehemiah 6 17

Nehemiah 6:17 kjv

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

Nehemiah 6:17 nkjv

Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

Nehemiah 6:17 niv

Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them.

Nehemiah 6:17 esv

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.

Nehemiah 6:17 nlt

During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah.

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 17 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:17 reveals the persistent treachery of certain Jewish nobles within Judah who maintained secret communication with Tobiah, a primary adversary of Nehemiah and the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls. This exchange of letters indicates a continued alliance, providing Tobiah with intelligence and potentially undermining Nehemiah's efforts, highlighting the internal opposition and spiritual compromise that Nehemiah faced.

Nehemiah 6 17 Context

Nehemiah chapter 6 details the intensifying opposition faced by Nehemiah during the final stages of the wall's reconstruction. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem repeatedly attempted to hinder the work through deception, threats, and attempts to lure Nehemiah into a trap outside Jerusalem. When these overt methods failed and the wall was nearing completion, their tactics shifted towards internal sabotage and intimidation, as seen in this verse. Nehemiah 6:17 specifically sets the stage for verse 18, which reveals the root of Tobiah’s deep-seated influence: his marriage ties with prominent Jewish families and a high priestly alliance. This shows that the enemies' strategies extended beyond external pressure to subvert God's work from within through influential but compromised individuals among God's people.

Nehemiah 6 17 Word analysis

• Moreover: (Hebrew: weḡam) - Signifies a continuation or additional detail, highlighting an ongoing situation of treachery even as the main threat of open attack diminished.
• in those days: Refers to the period when the wall was nearing completion (Neh 6:15), indicating the treachery persisted throughout the critical final phase.
• nobles: (Hebrew: ḥōrīm חֹרִים) - Means "freemen" or "noblemen." These were prominent, influential Jewish leaders, not just common people. Their social status made their betrayal particularly dangerous and disheartening, suggesting a significant portion of the elite were compromised.
• of Judah: Specifies their origin, emphasizing that this was an internal problem among God's chosen people, not solely an external one.
• sent many letters: (Hebrew: šālḥî mišlāḥôt שָׁלְחוּ מִשְׁלָחוֹת) - Indicates continuous and significant communication. "Many" (mišlāḥôt, literally "sending" or "dispatches") suggests a pattern, not an isolated incident. This was an active correspondence, signifying deliberate collaboration and intelligence sharing. Letters were a common ancient form of official communication, used here for intrigue.
• to Tobiah: Identifies the key recipient. Tobiah the Ammonite was a consistent adversary of Nehemiah, connected to the provincial administration (Neh 2:10). His deep-rooted personal and financial connections with certain Jewish elites made him an effective internal infiltrator.
• Tobiah’s letters came to them: Demonstrates a two-way flow of information and influence. Tobiah was not just receiving, but actively directing or encouraging their disloyalty, maintaining his leverage and continuing to sow discord.
• sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them: This phrase-level analysis underscores the mutual nature of the conspiracy. It wasn't one-sided communication but a network of intelligence exchange, reflecting a pact or ongoing scheme between the Judahite nobles and the foreign oppressor. This continuous exchange indicates established channels for clandestine activity.

Nehemiah 6 17 Bonus section

The nature of the "many letters" implies a regular flow of information or strategic consultations. The nobles likely shared details about the progress of the wall, Nehemiah’s plans, and internal affairs, aiding Tobiah in devising counter-strategies. The strong ties revealed in Nehemiah 6:18 (Tobiah's son Johanan marrying the daughter of Meshullam, and Tobiah himself marrying the daughter of Shecaniah, a highly respected name, indicating deeply intertwined elite families) highlight the core reason for these communications. The nobles felt bound by family covenants and reciprocal relationships to an adversary of their people and God, rather than prioritizing spiritual allegiance. This compromise by the ruling class posed a greater danger than direct attacks, as it bred mistrust and demoralized the rebuilding effort from within the community. It also underscores a recurrent biblical theme: the temptation for God's people to form alliances with and adopt the ways of the ungodly, which ultimately leads to spiritual and national decline.

Nehemiah 6 17 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:17 serves as a stark revelation of the internal spiritual compromise that threatened to undermine God’s work in Jerusalem. Despite facing overwhelming external opposition, Nehemiah also contended with betrayal from within, by individuals of influence who should have supported the divine cause. These nobles, driven by self-interest, familial ties (as hinted by Neh 6:18 and explicitly stated in Neh 13:4, 28), or perhaps fear, prioritized an alliance with an enemy of God's people over their loyalty to God and the community. Their secret correspondence provided Tobiah with crucial information, weakening Nehemiah’s position and highlighting the insidious nature of sin—how it works through deception and division even among those supposedly dedicated to the truth. This verse warns against hidden disloyalty and the dangers of earthly alliances compromising divine principles, showing that God's work is often assailed not only by clear adversaries but also by subtle betrayal from within the ranks.