Neh 6:17-19 ESV

17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

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17 Bukod dito, sa mga araw na iyon ay nagpadala ng maraming sulat kay Tobias ang mga maharlika sa Juda at ang mga sulat ni Tobias ay dumating sa kanila. 18 Sapagkat marami sa Juda ang nanumpa sa kanya, sapagkat siya'y manugang ni Shecanias na anak ni Arah; at kinuha ng kanyang anak na si Jehohanan ang anak na babae ni Mesulam na anak ni Berequias upang maging kanyang asawa. 19 Nagsalita rin sila tungkol sa kanyang mabubuting gawa sa harapan ko, at ibinalita ang aking mga sinabi sa kanya. At si Tobias ay nagpadala ng mga sulat upang takutin ako.


THE PERIL OF COMPROMISE

Tobiah was the man who had opposed the rebuilding work in connivance with Sanballat. He was disturbed that Nehemiah came to rebuild the walls [2:10], mocked Nehemiah's work [2:19; 4:3], was angry that the work was being done [4:7] and tried to get Nehemiah to stop the work, and came to the plain of Ono where he could attack Nehemiah.

Yet, there were many in Judah who pledged with him, that is, they befriended him. Why? It was because he had family ties to many in the tribe of Judah. In fact, Nehemiah observed and said that “they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him.” Perhaps they were oblivious to the sinister work of Tobiah, so that they have had a hard time believing and perceiving his evil deeds. Perhaps they were saying, "He has always been nice to us; we saw all the good he has done to us." Their ‘pledges with him’ suggested that they have had financial dealings with Tobiah. That is, their self-interests were evident in protecting their trading contracts through marriage connections. This is the peril when self-interest overrules God’s purposes.

It’s sad that their self-interests had caused them to justify this friendship, thereby treating the enemy lightly. A compromise happens when people choose what is convenient rather than the commitment to the truth. Is it an ordinary situation when one becomes an enemy of God by befriending the world? [Jas 4:7] Nehemiah, in this case, did not allow himself to be sidetrack by listening to them. He neither ignore them nor entertain them. He was focused to his priority task and let the finished wall answer his critics.

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