Keraia
Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2:10

Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem · Nehemiah 2:1–10
Read Nehemiah 2

Translations

Modern
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
Traditional
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Literal
And Sanballat the Horonite heard, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and they were disturbed exceedingly deeply that a man had come to seek the good of the sons of Israel.
Latin
Et audierunt Sanaballat Horonites, et Tobias servus Ammanites: et contristati sunt afflictione magna, quod venisset homo qui quæreret prosperitatem filiorum Israël.

Original

Hebrew
English
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.

Notes

Nehemiah 2:10

  • Some local non-Jewish officials were unhappy because rebuilding Jerusalem's walls would shift political power to the Jews.

  • Sanballat led the opposition to Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts.

  • the Horonite: He was likely from Upper or Lower Horon (Beth-horon, Joshua 16:3), about 19 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. Sanballat's name suggests he might have descended from the Assyrians brought by Sargon II after Samaria's fall (2 Kings 17:24). A document found in Egypt shows he became Samaria's governor in 408 BC.

Nehemiah 1:1–2:20

When Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem's ruins, he prayed for God's help (Nehemiah 1:1–11) and asked the king to send him to Jerusalem (2:1–8). Upon arrival, he urged the people to rebuild the city's wall (Nehemiah 2:11–20).

People

Horonites: A people group opposed to Nehemiah's work Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Sanballat: Governor of Samaria, opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem Tobiah: Ammonite official who opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts

Places

Ammon: An ancient nation and its capital city, enemies of Israel

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Horonite Nehemiah (Person) Samaria Sanballat Servant Tobiah

Topics

Character of the Wicked: Envious Country: Love of Envy: Sanballat Horonite: Sanballat, The Malice: Samaritans Toward the Jews Malice: Sanballat Sanballat: An Enemy of the Jews in Rebuilding Jerusalem After the Babylonian Captivity Tobiah: An Enemy of the Jews in the Time of Nehemiah: Opposes the Rebuilding of the Wall of Jerusalem