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With the wall nearly completed Nehemiah was once again confronted by external threats, this time directed against his own life. Unable to stop the work itself, Sanballat and company resolved to assassinate Nehemiah. Five times Sanballat attempted to lure Nehemiah to the plain of Ono, some twentyseven miles north of Jerusalem, supposedly for a summit meeting.
Sanballat and Tobiah also enlisted confederates among the Jews. One of these, Shemaiah, acted and spoke like a prophet, though he is not called one (vv.10-13). His intent was to entice Nehemiah to seek refuge from potential assassins in the temple, thereby compromising himself. Among the others hired to intimidate Nehemiah was a prophetess, Noadiah (v.14). Nehemiah recognized the architect of these plots and preserved his integrity.
The succinct statement in 6:15 records the completion of the wall of Jerusalem. Despite opponents without and within, economic problems and social upheavals, the Jews finished the walls in the month of Elul (the sixth month), in the short period of fifty-two days. Nehemiah was always convinced that Yahweh was responsible for their success. Now even the enemies of the Jews were forced to acknowledge God’s hand at work (v.16). Throughout the book their opponents attempted to frighten and discourage the Jews, but, ironically, in the end it was the non-Jews who were afraid and discouraged.
Note: A key word in this chapter and the book is yārē', “to be afraid.” The translators of the NIV have ignored the vocalization of the MT and the reading of the LXX in 6:16 and have translated, “the surrounding nations saw it,” thereby losing the emphasis. Preferable is the RSV, “all the nations round about us were afraid.”