What I Noticed Today (Nehemiah 6-7)
Nehemiah 6
The plot to assassinate Nehemiah.
In verses 1-9, when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Nehemiah’s other enemies heard that the work on the wall had been completed, they conspired against Nehemiah pretending to befriend him.
- Four times they sent a messenger asking to meet, and Nehemiah told them he could not stop working to meet with them
- Then they sent a letter accusing the Jews of planning a rebellion against the king of Persia and asked to meet to discuss the issue. Nehemiah told them they were only spreading rumors trying to intimidate the people into not finishing the work.
In verses 10-14, then Sanballat and Tobiah hired a Shemaiah the prophet, to scare Nehemiah into hiding in the temple so they could speak out against him.
- Nehemiah refused to be intimidated, knowing that Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to make him look weak and discredit him as the people’s leader.
In verses 15-19, despite all the taunts, threats, conspiracies, and false accusations, the people under Nehemiah’s leadership had rebuilt the walls of the city in only 52 days.
- During the time of the rebuilding, many of the nobles of Judah sent letters to Tobiah, and he sent letters to them.
- The nobles kept trying to influence Nehemiah on Tobiah’s behalf saying he was a good man. All the while, Tobiah had been sending letters to Nehemiah to intimidate him.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- How often when God gives us a grand vision of the work He has for us do we endure opposition! We should anticipate the opposition and realize that it comes in many forms as the enemy is always trying to keep us from fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives.
Nehemiah 7
In verses 1-3, still concerned for the people’s safety Nehemiah put Hanani (his brother) in charge of Jerusalem, and Hananiah commander of the fortress because he feared God more than most men.
- Nehemiah ordered guards be at the city gates at all times, and that the gates not be opened until late morning and closed again in the evening.
In verses 4-7a, God put it in Nehemiah’s mind to register the people of Jerusalem by genealogy.
- He started with those who had returned first (exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar) with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bihvai, Nahum, and Baanah.
In verses 7b-65, the balance of chapter 7 records the names of the families of exiles of the people, the priests, the Levites, temple servants, and those who could not prove their lineage.
- The assembly was 42,360 people (v. 66), not including 7,337 slaves, and 245 singers.
- The family leaders gave a significant amount of gold and silver to the temple treasury.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
