Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (Opposition to the Wall)
Category: Failure of submission to God’s work
Could endure: Support God’s rebuilding plan or at least leave it unhindered.
“The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.” (Nehemiah 2:20)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 54:17; Acts 5:39.
Chose wrongly: Mocked, ridiculed, and plotted against the builders.
“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” (Nehemiah 4:8)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 2:1–3; Acts 4:25–26.
Endured (negatively): Exposed as enemies of God’s people, ultimately thwarted.
“Our enemies realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” (Nehemiah 6:16)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 8:10.
Why (wrong motive): Envy, fear of losing power.
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed.” (Nehemiah 4:1)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 14:30; James 3:16.
Result: Shamed and powerless, while God’s work prospered.
“So the wall was completed… in fifty-two days.” (Nehemiah 6:15)
Cross-Refs: Job 5:12; Romans 8:31.
Nobles Exploiting the Poor
Category: Failure of justice & brotherly love
Could endure: Care for their fellow Jews during hardship.
“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor… do not take advantage of them.” (Leviticus 25:35–36)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 22:25; Proverbs 14:31.
Chose wrongly: Charged interest, enslaved their brothers.
“You are charging your own people interest!” (Nehemiah 5:7)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 23:19–20; Ezekiel 22:12.
Endured (negatively): Public rebuke and forced restitution.
“What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God?” (Nehemiah 5:9)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 58:6; James 5:1–4.
Why (wrong motive): Greed and selfishness during famine.
“We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax.” (Nehemiah 5:4)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 28:8; 1 Timothy 6:10.
Result: Made to restore fields, vineyards, and stop usury.
“We will give it back… we will not demand anything more from them.” (Nehemiah 5:12)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 18:7–8; Luke 19:8.
False Prophets (Shemaiah & Others)
Category: Failure of truth & courage
Could endure: Speak God’s true word, strengthen the workers.
“Your prophets did not spare; they prophesied to you to turn you back.” (Nehemiah 9:30)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 23:16; Ezekiel 13:2–3.
Chose wrongly: Tried to frighten Nehemiah into sin.
“He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this.” (Nehemiah 6:13)
Cross-Refs: 1 Kings 22:22–23; Acts 13:10.
Endured (negatively): Exposed as frauds, prayers of judgment against them.
“Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.” (Nehemiah 6:14)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 18:20; Lamentations 2:14.
Why (wrong motive): Bribery, fear of men, deception.
“…he had been hired by Tobiah and Sanballat.” (Nehemiah 6:12)
Cross-Refs: Micah 3:11; 2 Peter 2:3.
Result: Their schemes failed; Nehemiah’s integrity stood.
“I realized that God had not sent him.” (Nehemiah 6:12)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 7:15–16; 2 Corinthians 11:13.
Intermarriage in Jerusalem
Category: Failure of covenant separation
Could endure: Keep Israel holy and distinct from pagan nations.
“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons.” (Deuteronomy 7:3)
Cross-Refs: Ezra 9:1–2; Malachi 2:11.
Chose wrongly: Married foreign women, even priests.
“I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair.” (Nehemiah 13:25)
Cross-Refs: Nehemiah 13:23–27; Ezra 10:2.
Endured (negatively): Risked repeating Solomon’s downfall.
“Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned?” (Nehemiah 13:26)
Cross-Refs: 1 Kings 11:1–4; 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Why (wrong motive): Desire for cultural blending, disregard for holiness.
“One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite.” (Nehemiah 13:28)
Cross-Refs: Judges 3:6–7; James 4:4.
Result: Purged from priesthood, covenant reaffirmed.
“I purified them from everything foreign.” (Nehemiah 13:30)
Cross-Refs: Nehemiah 10:29–30; 2 Corinthians 7:1.