Nehemiah 2:19 - But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammontite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”
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What does "Nehemiah 2:19" mean?
This verse (Nehemiah 2:19) describes the initial opposition Nehemiah and the Jews faced upon arriving in Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. Let's break down the meaning:
"But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammontite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it...": This introduces the main antagonists. These three men were influential figures in the region surrounding Jerusalem, and they were not happy about Nehemiah's arrival and mission.
Sanballat the Horonite: He was likely the governor of Samaria, a region north of Jerusalem. He was a powerful figure who wanted to maintain control over the area.
Tobiah the Ammonite servant: He was likely a high-ranking official in the region of Ammon, east of Jerusalem. He held a position of influence, possibly within the Persian administration, and he was connected to the Jewish aristocracy through marriage. He may have been a servant in the Persian court but also held land and influence in the region.
Geshem the Arabian: He was likely a leader of Arab tribes in the southern regions around Jerusalem. He controlled trade routes and had significant power.
"...they ridiculed us, and despised us...": This describes the reaction of the antagonists. They didn't just disagree with Nehemiah; they mocked and belittled him and the Jews. Their goal was to discourage and demoralize them before they even started the work.
"...and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”": This is the specific accusation they leveled against Nehemiah and the Jews. They accused them of planning a rebellion against the Persian King Artaxerxes I, who was the ruler of the region. This was a serious accusation, as rebellion would be severely punished. By framing the rebuilding effort as an act of rebellion, they hoped to provoke Persian intervention and stop the project.
In summary, Nehemiah 2:19 highlights the following:
Opposition: The verse introduces the key opponents of Nehemiah's mission to rebuild Jerusalem.
Ridicule and Contempt: The opponents used mockery and disdain to undermine Nehemiah and the Jews.
False Accusation: They falsely accused Nehemiah and the Jews of rebellion against the Persian king, aiming to sabotage their efforts and incite Persian authorities against them.
Political Context: It reveals the political tensions and power dynamics in the region at the time. The surrounding leaders saw the rebuilding of Jerusalem as a threat to their own influence and control.
Spiritual Warfare: Some commentaries view this as a spiritual attack, as the rebuilding of Jerusalem represented the restoration of God's people and the reestablishment of His worship. The opponents were trying to hinder God's plan.
The verse is significant because it sets the stage for the challenges and opposition Nehemiah faced as he led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. It shows that the task wasn't just a physical one; it was also a political and spiritual battle.
Nehemiah 2:19 - But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammontite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”
What does "Nehemiah 2:19" mean?
This verse (Nehemiah 2:19) describes the initial opposition Nehemiah and the Jews faced upon arriving in Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. Let's break down the meaning:
"But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammontite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it...": This introduces the main antagonists. These three men were influential figures in the region surrounding Jerusalem, and they were not happy about Nehemiah's arrival and mission.
Sanballat the Horonite: He was likely the governor of Samaria, a region north of Jerusalem. He was a powerful figure who wanted to maintain control over the area.
Tobiah the Ammonite servant: He was likely a high-ranking official in the region of Ammon, east of Jerusalem. He held a position of influence, possibly within the Persian administration, and he was connected to the Jewish aristocracy through marriage. He may have been a servant in the Persian court but also held land and influence in the region.
Geshem the Arabian: He was likely a leader of Arab tribes in the southern regions around Jerusalem. He controlled trade routes and had significant power.
"...they ridiculed us, and despised us...": This describes the reaction of the antagonists. They didn't just disagree with Nehemiah; they mocked and belittled him and the Jews. Their goal was to discourage and demoralize them before they even started the work.
"...and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”": This is the specific accusation they leveled against Nehemiah and the Jews. They accused them of planning a rebellion against the Persian King Artaxerxes I, who was the ruler of the region. This was a serious accusation, as rebellion would be severely punished. By framing the rebuilding effort as an act of rebellion, they hoped to provoke Persian intervention and stop the project.
In summary, Nehemiah 2:19 highlights the following:
Opposition: The verse introduces the key opponents of Nehemiah's mission to rebuild Jerusalem.
Ridicule and Contempt: The opponents used mockery and disdain to undermine Nehemiah and the Jews.
False Accusation: They falsely accused Nehemiah and the Jews of rebellion against the Persian king, aiming to sabotage their efforts and incite Persian authorities against them.
Political Context: It reveals the political tensions and power dynamics in the region at the time. The surrounding leaders saw the rebuilding of Jerusalem as a threat to their own influence and control.
Spiritual Warfare: Some commentaries view this as a spiritual attack, as the rebuilding of Jerusalem represented the restoration of God's people and the reestablishment of His worship. The opponents were trying to hinder God's plan.
The verse is significant because it sets the stage for the challenges and opposition Nehemiah faced as he led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. It shows that the task wasn't just a physical one; it was also a political and spiritual battle.