Nehemiah 6: Opposition and the Wall Finished

Short answer: Nehemiah 6 records the final attempts of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall through deceit, intimidation, and hired prophecy. Nehemiah refuses to be distracted or frightened, and the wall is completed in fifty-two days, causing the enemies to lose confidence because they perceive God's hand in the work.

What Nehemiah 6 says

The chapter opens with the enemies learning that the wall has been rebuilt, though the gates are not yet set. Sanballat and Geshem invite Nehemiah to a meeting in the plain of Ono, but Nehemiah perceives their intent to harm him. He refuses four times, saying he is doing a great work and cannot come down. The fifth time, Sanballat sends an open letter accusing Nehemiah and the Jews of rebellion and of planning to make Nehemiah king, with prophets proclaiming a king in Judah. Nehemiah denies the charges, stating they are imagined in the enemies' hearts. He prays for strength because the enemies seek to weaken the workers' hands.

The opposition then shifts to a more personal and religious deception. Shemaiah, who is confined at home, urges Nehemiah to meet inside the temple and shut the doors because assassins are coming at night. Nehemiah refuses, reasoning that a man in his position should not flee or enter the temple to save his life. He discerns that God did not send Shemaiah; rather, Tobiah and Sanballat hired him to make Nehemiah afraid, so that he would sin and they would have grounds for an evil report. Nehemiah prays that God would remember Tobiah, Sanballat, the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who tried to put him in fear.

The wall is finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. When the enemies and surrounding nations hear of it, they are afraid and lose confidence, because they perceive that the work was done by God. This marks a decisive turning point: the opposition has failed, and the completion of the wall is attributed to divine help.

In those days, the nobles of Judah continue to correspond with Tobiah, who is bound to them by marriage ties. Many in Judah are sworn to him because he is the son-in-law of Shecaniah and his son has married into another family. They speak of Tobiah's good deeds to Nehemiah and report Nehemiah's words back to him. Tobiah sends letters to intimidate Nehemiah, showing that the threat persists even after the wall is finished.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3)” (Nehemiah 6:3) — Nehemiah's refusal to leave the work sets the tone for the entire chapter. He prioritizes the task God gave him over the enemies' invitation, showing that not every opportunity is from God.
• “For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” (Nehemiah 6:9) But now, strengthen my hands.” (Nehemiah 6:9) — This verse reveals the enemies' strategy to weaken the workers through fear, and Nehemiah's immediate response is prayer for strength. It shows that fear is a real weapon, but prayer is the counter.
• “I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.” (Nehemiah 6:12) — Nehemiah discerns that God had not sent Shemaiah, even though the prophecy sounded religious. This highlights the need for spiritual discernment when people claim to speak for God.
• “So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.” (Nehemiah 6:15) — The wall is finished in fifty-two days, a concrete fulfillment of the work despite relentless opposition. It marks the completion of the task and the vindication of Nehemiah's steadfastness.

Gospel connection

Nehemiah's resolve to finish the wall despite lies, threats, and false prophecy points forward to the greater work of building God's kingdom through Jesus Christ. Jesus also faced opposition, false accusations, and attempts to trap him, yet he remained faithful to his mission. Nehemiah prayed for strength and discernment, and Jesus, though greater, entrusted himself to God. The completion of the wall in fifty-two days shows that God's purposes cannot be stopped by human schemes. In the wider biblical story, this anticipates the ultimate victory of Christ, who builds his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Nehemiah's prayer for God to remember his enemies also foreshadows the final judgment, where God will deal with all opposition to his work.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to examine how they respond when good work is opposed. Nehemiah did not panic, did not compromise, and did not leave his post. He prayed, he discerned, and he kept building. For us, it means we should be wary of distractions that look like opportunities but pull us away from what God has called us to do. It also means we should not be driven by fear when people threaten or spread lies. Instead, we can bring our fears to God and ask for strength. Finally, the chapter challenges us to be careful about who we listen to, because not everyone who claims to speak for God is sent by God. We need discernment, rooted in prayer and God's truth.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not tell us the exact content of the letters between the nobles of Judah and Tobiah, nor does it specify what good deeds Tobiah had done. It does not say that Nehemiah entered the temple or fled, only that he refused. It does not describe the reactions of the people of Jerusalem to the wall's completion, only the enemies' fear. It does not name the specific sins that Nehemiah might have committed if he had gone into the temple, only that it would have been a sin. It does not explain how the fifty-two days were counted or whether the gates were finished at that time. The text is silent on Nehemiah's emotional state beyond his prayers and statements. It also does not record any direct response from God to Nehemiah's prayers in this chapter.

Questions for study

1. Why did Nehemiah refuse to meet with Sanballat and Geshem, and what does his response teach about prioritizing God's work?
2. What was the purpose of the open letter in verses 5 through 7, and how did Nehemiah answer the accusations?
3. How did Nehemiah discern that Shemaiah's prophecy was not from God, and what can we learn from his example?
4. What does the completion of the wall in fifty-two days reveal about God's role in the work, and how did the enemies react?
5. Why did the nobles of Judah continue to communicate with Tobiah even after the wall was finished, and what does this show about the persistence of opposition?

Keep reading

Related studies: Nehemiah 1 Bible Study, Nehemiah 10 Bible Study, Nehemiah 11 Bible Study, Nehemiah 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Nehemiah not go into the temple to save his life?

Nehemiah reasoned that a man in his position should not flee or enter the temple, which was not permitted for him. He also discerned that God had not sent Shemaiah, and going in would have been a sin.

How long did it take to rebuild the wall?

The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days, as stated in verse 15.

What was the reaction of the enemies when the wall was finished?

They were afraid and lost confidence, because they perceived that the work was done by God, as verse 16 says.