But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite 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?”
Parallel Translations
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But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite 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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But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
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But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said: 'What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?'
Cross-references (16)
Passages linked to Nehemiah 2:19 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Nehemiah 6:6 in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.
- Nehemiah 6:1-2 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates) Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.
- Psalms 44:13-14 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
- Psalms 80:6 You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.
- Mark 5:40 They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
- Ezra 4:15-16 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that, if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.
- Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
- Nehemiah 4:1 But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews.
- Nehemiah 6:9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.
- Job 30:1 “But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
- Psalms 79:4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
- Jeremiah 20:8 For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, “Violence and destruction!” because Yahweh’s word has been made a reproach to me, and a derision, all day.
- Luke 23:2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
- John 19:12 At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
- Acts 24:5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
- Hebrews 11:36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain These were three chief governors under the king of…
These were three chief governors under the king of Persia beyond Euphrates.
Thus the wicked when they will burden the children of God, ever lay treason unto their charge, both because it maketh them most odious to the world, and also stirreth the hatred of princes most against them.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Neh 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah…
Neh 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard [it], they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What [is] this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Ver. 19. But when Sanballat the Horonite, &c.] At first these men were sad, but now mad with malice. Wicked men grow worse and worse, in peius proficiunt, but they shall proceed no further: for their madness shall appear to all men.
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And Geshem the Arabian] Lieutenant of Arabia for the king of Persia. He also joins himself to the two former to hinder the work in hand. Such opposition met Luther with, when he began to reform. The pope excommunicated him; the emperor proscribed him; Henry, king of England, and Lewis, king of Hungary, wrote against him; but the work went on, nevertheless, because it was of God.
They laughed us to scorn and despised us] As a company of fools, that could never effect what we attempted. So Erasmus and Sir Thomas More thought to have mocked the Lutherans out of their religion, Notum est Erasmi dicterium, Qualem a se decimum Capito fore sperat? &c. This the Scripture calleth cruel mocking, Heb 11:36; and ranks it with bloody persecution. Indeed, the favourablest persecution, saith one, of any good cause is the lash of lewd tongues; whether by bitter taunts or scurrilous invectives; which it is as impossible to avoid as necessary to condemn, &c. Bravely condemn, saith another worthy, all contumelies and contempts for thy conscience; taking them as crowns and confirmations of thy conformity to Christ.
And said, What is this thing that ye do?] Scoffingly they said it; like as Pilate said to our Saviour, What is truth? Oh how easy is it to wag a wicked tongue! Nihil tam volucre quam maledictum, nihil facilius emittitur (Cicero). One while they charge this people with folly; another while with treachery. If to accuse a man only were sufficient to make him guilty, none should be innocent.
Will ye rebel against the king?] This was ever, saith Lipsius, Unicum crimen eorum, qui crimine vacabant, the only and ordinary charge laid upon the most innocent. Elias is a troubler, Jeremiah a traitor, Paul a pest, Luther a trumpet of rebellion, all the orthodox antimagistratical. To colour the massacre of Paris, and to accuse it to the world, there was coin stamped in the forepart, whereof (together with the king’s picture) was this inscription: Virtus in Rebelles, Valour against the rebels; and on the other side, Pietas excitavit iustitiam, Piety hath excited justice.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Geshem the Arabian; either the king’s lieutenant in Arabia,…
Geshem the Arabian; either the king’s lieutenant in Arabia, as Tobiah was among the Ammonites, and Sanballat among the Moabites; or rather, an Arabian by his birth. And it seems probable that both he, and Sanballat, and Tobiah were chief men or governors among the Samaritans, or in their army. See Neh 4:1-3.
Will ye rebel against the king? do you design to fortify the city against the king.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Then answered I them, and said unto them,.... With…
Then answered I them, and said unto them,.... With much spirit and boldness, not at all intimidated by their scoffs or threats:
the God of heaven, he will prosper us; whom we serve, and under whose protection we are, who will supply us with everything we want, and succeed this undertaking, in whose name we engage in it, and on whom we depend, and we care not what man can do to us:
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therefore we his servants will arise and build; in spite of all opposition, difficulties, and discouragements:
but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem; no part of the city belonged to them; they had no jurisdiction there; they had no name there, nor their ancestors, in times past; nor had they done anything to perpetuate their memory in it: in short, they had nothing to do with them, neither in religious nor in civil things; and it was best for them to mind their own affairs where they presided, and not trouble themselves about theirs.
Next: Nehemiah Chapter 3
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 19. Geshem the Arabian] Some chief of the…
Verse 19. Geshem the Arabian] Some chief of the Arabs contiguous to Samaria, who had joined with Sanballat and Tobiah to distress the Jews, and hinder their work.
Will ye rebel against the king?] This they said in order to raise jealousies in the king's mind, and induce him to recall his ordinance.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Neh 2:19-20. When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, &c. —…
Neh 2:19-20. When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, &c. — These three seem to have been chief men among the Samaritans, and perhaps were invested with some offices or authority by the king of Persia. You have no portion nor right — Do not trouble yourselves about this matter, who have no possession among us, no authority over us, nor interest in our church or state; nor memorial in Jerusalem — No testimony or monument either of your relation to us by birth or religion, or of your kindness to us or to this place, but you are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel: therefore mind your own business, and do not meddle with ours.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Geshem the Arabian - The discovery that Sargon populated…
Geshem the Arabian - The discovery that Sargon populated Samaria in part with an Arab colony explains why Arabs should have opposed the fortification of Jerusalem.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Arabian governor. He afterwards accuses Nehemias, chap. vi. 6.…
Arabian governor. He afterwards accuses Nehemias, chap. vi. 6. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain SCORN OF THE SAMARITANS, Neh_2:19-20.
SCORN OF THE SAMARITANS, Neh_2:19-20.
19. Sanballat… Tobiah — See on Neh_2:10.
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Geshem the Arabian — Written Gashum in Neh_6:6. Whether he was associated with Sanballat and Tobiah in the government at Samaria, or represented some Arab tribe in another quarter, is uncertain; but in either case he was in league with the Samaritans against the Jews, and most malignant was his enmity to the latter. Compare his vile slander, Neh_6:6. The Arabians of the desert south of Palestine would naturally oppose the re-establishment of the kingdom of Jerusalem, for it might oppose a barrier to their predatory invasions of that section of the country.
Will ye rebel — The building of the walls was construed into a design to fortify themselves, and then revolt and become an independent state.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 19, 20. The Derision of the Enemy
19, 20. The Derision of the Enemy
19. Sanballat … Tobiah] See Neh_2:10.
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Geshem the Arabian] A third prominent adversary of Nehemiah is here introduced. His name occurs again in Neh_6:1-2. In Neh_6:6, the name is written as ‘Gashmu,’ a dialectical variety agreeing, as it is said, with North-Arabian usage. Geshem is clearly the chief of some Arabian tribe. But whether he represented Arabians on the Southern border of Judah or the Arabian community established by Sargon king of Assyria in the depopulated neighbourhood of Samaria (715) is a disputed point. If the former, then the movement, which he now took part in, must be regarded as a coalition of all the neighbouring peoples against the restoration of Jerusalem’s greatness. If the latter, then the movement is to be chiefly connected with the hostility of the Samaritans.
the Arabian] See on Neh_4:7.
laughed us to scorn] A strong word, familiar to us from its occurrence in the Psalter (Psa_2:4, Psa_22:7, Psa_59:8, Psa_80:6). We are not told whether this scorn was expressed by letter or in a personal interview.
despised us] See the two words occurring together in 2Ki_19:21; Eze_36:4. The ground of the contempt here expressed is not quite obvious. Some suppose that the enemy scoffed in ignorance of the king’s decree in favour of Nehemiah’s action, and that, regarding the Jews as embarking upon a course of open rebellion, they derided an undertaking which they thought could have but one conclusion. On the other hand, it is hardly likely that Nehemiah would have kept in the background the royal authority for his undertaking. We know he had been to the ‘governors’ of the province (Neh_2:9).
It is more probable that in order to alienate the Persian officials and to frighten the more timid spirits among the Jews, they pretended to interpret Nehemiah’s action as the first step towards a real rebellion. The insignificance of the Jewish community in size and strength—its inability to take any political step of real importance—presented an easy target for ridicule, which was calculated to arouse the suspicions of Persian officials at the same time that it promoted disaffection amongst the waverers in Jerusalem.
will ye rebel] Or ‘are ye rebelling?’ Vulg. Numquid contra regem vos rebellatis? LXX. ἀποστατεῖτε.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (19) Geshem the Arabian.—This name completes the triumvirate of…
(19) Geshem the Arabian.—This name completes the triumvirate of the leaders of the opposition to the mission of Nehemiah. They were not independent chieftains: Tobiah was Sanballat’s servant and counsellor, while Geshem was probably the leader of an Arabian company mostly in his service. The account of their contemptuous opposition is given in a few touches, as is the contempt with which it was met They charged Nehemiah with rebellion, as afterwards, in chapter 6:6.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Geshem the Arabian, elsewhere called Gashmu, (Neh_6:6) may have…
Geshem the Arabian, elsewhere called Gashmu, (Neh_6:6) may have been an independent sheikh possessing authority in Idumea, or in the desert country adjoining upon Ammon; but it seems quite as likely that he was merely the head of a body of Arab troops maintained by Sanballat at Samaria. (Neh_4:7) Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem are united so closely, and act so much together, (Neh_4:1-7 Neh_6:1, Neh_6:2, Neh_6:6, Neh_6:12, Neh_6:14) that it is difficult to suppose them to be three chieftains residing on three sides of Judaea, the north, the east, and the south, merely holding diplomatic intercourse with each other, which is the ordinary idea. Note that Tobiah is present with Sanballat in Samaria on one occasion, (Neh_4:3) and that Geshem and Sanballat propose a joint interview with Nehemiah on another. (Neh_6:2) They laughed us to scorn, and said. Either by messengers, like Sennacherib, (2Ki_18:17-35) or by a formal written communication, as Ewald supposes ("History of Israel," vol. 5. p. 154, E. Tr.). Will ye rebel? Compare Neh_6:6; and see also Ezr_4:12-16. Had Artaxerxes not granted permission, Nehemiah"s proceedings might naturally have borne this interpretation.
Vers. 19, 20. Religion and ridicule.
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I That religion is often made the subject of RIDICULE. "They laughed us to scorn.
1. Its doctrines are ridiculed. Men laugh at the supernatural.
2. Its enterprise is ridiculed. Men scorn the idea of a world-wide moral conquest.
3. Its agencies are ridiculed. "Is not this the carpenter"s son?
4. Its experiences are ridiculed. "Much learning doth make thee mad." This ridicule is
a. envious;
b. imbecile;
c. contemptuous;
d. ignorant;
5. Rebellious. "Will ye rebel against the king?" Christ was despised and rejected of men.
II The REPLY which religion should make to ridicule.
1. That it is often wise to reply to ridicule. "Then answered I them.
2. That religion must meet ridicule by expressing confidence in God. "The God of heaven, he will prosper us.
3. That religion must meet ridicule by determination which cannot be moved by it. "Therefore we his servants will arise and build.
4. That religion must meet ridicule by denying its right or ability to interfere. "But ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
5. That religion must meet ridicule by declaring it alien to the high privileges of the truth. It has no portion in Jerusalem. This is the ideal reply to derision. E.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain The obstacle of ridicule.
laughed
The obstacle of ridicule.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Sanballat ... Tobiah
Sanballat ... Tobiah
These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 02:9-10. (See: How to Translate Names)
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Geshem
This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)
What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?
These rhetorical questions are used to mock Nehemiah. These can be written as statements. AT: "You are acting foolishly! You should not be rebelling against the king!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
the king
This refers to Artaxerses, the king of Persia.
will arise and build
This is an idiom. AT: "will begin rebuilding" (See: Idiom)
But you have no share, no right, and no historic claim in Jerusalem
"But you have no share, legal right, or religious claim to Jerusalem"
translationWords
Ammon
servant
Arabia
mock
rebel
king
God
heaven
raise
Jerusalem
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 2:19 Nehemiah’s enemies immediately scoffed and tried to stop…
2:19 Nehemiah’s enemies immediately scoffed and tried to stop progress. These opponents were dangerous because of their potential ability to discourage the people and undermine Nehemiah’s credibility. • Are you rebelling against the king? This serious charge could bring death (see also Ezra 4:6-23).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.