Now it came to pass, whenSanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshemthe Arabian, and the restof our enemies, heardthatI had builtthe wall, and that there was nobreachlefttherein; ( thoughatthattimeI had notset upthe doorsupon the gates;) That Sanballatand Geshemsentuntome, saying, Come, let us meettogetherin some one of the villagesin the plainof Ono. But theythoughtto dome mischief. And I sentmessengersuntothem, saying, I am doinga greatwork, so that I cannotcome down: whyshould the workcease, whilstI leaveit, and come downtoyou? Yet they sentuntome fourtimesafter thissort; and I answeredthem after the samemanner. Then sentSanballathis servantuntome in likemannerthe fifthtimewith an openletterin his hand; Wherein was written, It is reportedamong the heathen, and Gashmusaith it, that thouand the Jewsthinkto rebel: forwhich causethoubuildestthe wall, that thoumayest betheir king, according to thesewords. And thou hast alsoappointedprophetsto preachofthee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a kingin Judah: and nowshall it be reportedto the kingaccording to thesewords. Comenowtherefore, and let us take counseltogether. Then I sentuntohim, saying, There arenosuchthingsdone asthousayest, butthoufeignestthem out of thine own heart. Forthey allmade us afraid, saying, Their handsshall be weakenedfromthe work, that it be notdone. Nowtherefore, O God , strengthenmy hands. Afterward Icameunto the houseof Shemaiahthe sonof Delaiahthe sonof Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet togetherinthe houseof God, withinthe temple, and let us shutthe doorsof the temple: forthey will cometo slaythee; yea, in the nightwill they cometo slaythee. And I said, Should such a man as Iflee? and who is there , that, being as I am , would gointothe templeto save his life? I will notgo in. And, lo, I perceivedthat Godhad notsenthim; butthat he pronouncedthis prophecyagainstme: for Tobiahand Sanballathad hiredhim. Therefore was hehired, thatI should be afraid, and doso, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evilreport, thatthey might reproachme. My God, thinkthou upon Tobiahand Sanballataccording to thesetheir works, andon the prophetessNoadiah, and the restof the prophets, thatwould haveput me in fear. So the wallwas finishedin the twentyand fifth day of the month Elul, in fiftyand twodays. And it came to pass, that whenallour enemiesheard thereof , and allthe heathenthat were aboutus saw these things , they were muchcast downin their own eyes: for they perceivedthatthisworkwas wroughtofour God. Moreoverin thosedaysthe noblesof JudahsentmanylettersuntoTobiah, and the letters of Tobiahcameuntothem. For there were manyin Judahswornunto him, becausehe was the son in lawof Shechaniahthe sonof Arah; and his sonJohananhad takenthe daughterof Meshullamthe sonof Berechiah. Alsothey reportedhis good deedsbeforeme, and utteredmy wordsto him. And Tobiahsentlettersto put me in fear.