Nehemiah 4:7-9
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The enemies' anger wasn't just because the wall was being repaired, but specifically because the "breaches," the open wounds in Jerusalem's defenses, were starting to be "stopped" or "closed." This reveals their fury wasn't about progress in general, but the healing and restoration of what they had broken.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem have begun rebuilding the city walls, making significant progress despite earlier mockery. When their enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and various neighboring peoples like the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites—hear that the work is moving forward and the breaches are being sealed, their frustration boils over into intense anger. This news fuels their determination to stop the project, leading them to plot military action against Jerusalem.
Nehemiah’s success in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls sparked a firestorm of opposition. Who exactly were these enemies, and why did they unite?
A United Front Against Restoration
Nehemiah 4:7 lists a formidable group of adversaries: Sanballat (likely the governor of Samaria), Tobiah (an Ammonite official), Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites.
Their unity was driven by a shared fear and jealousy of Jerusalem's resurgence. A rebuilt Jerusalem meant a stronger Jewish people, a threat to their own regional dominance and economic interests.
The Bible uses a powerful metaphor to describe the progress on Jerusalem's walls. What does 'healing' have to do with construction?
From Wounds to Wholeness
The Hebrew word used for repairing the walls literally means 'healing' or 'binding up.' The text says the walls were 'made up' and the 'breaches began to be stopped.'
Ask a follow-up
When things start going well in God's work, that's often when the opposition intensifies. Why does success attract more danger?
The Climax of Opposition
Verse 7 marks a significant escalation. Before, the enemies had mocked and threatened (Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:1-3). Now, hearing of tangible progress – the walls rising and breaches closing – their anger boils over into plotting.
Understand the original words
‘aloth · Hebrew Noun/Verb
The act of restoring or mending that which was broken or dilapidated; in Scripture, it often points to the restoration of God's covenant, temple, or people.
perets · Hebrew Noun
Gaps or openings in a wall or defense; symbolically, these represent areas of weakness, vulnerability, or failure in personal or national righteousness.
charah aph · Hebrew Adjective/Verb phrase
A strong, intense emotional response often associated with opposition to God's work; it frequently highlights the antagonism of the world toward those fulfilling God's purposes.
qashar · Hebrew Verb
To conspire or form an alliance; in a biblical context, it often describes the wicked uniting against the righteous to obstruct divine plans.
mehumah · Hebrew Noun
Disorder, tumult, or instability; used biblically to describe the disruption of peace and the undermining of God's order or mission.
palal · Hebrew Verb
The act of communicating with God; it is the fundamental human response of dependence on the Creator for wisdom, strength, and deliverance.
mishmar · Hebrew Noun
A watchman or sentinel; represents vigilance and responsibility in guarding God’s truth, people, or community from spiritual and physical threats.
722 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, destroying Samaria and deporting many Israelites. This event leads to the establishment of a mixed population in the region, with foreign settlers brought in by the Assyrians, creating the Samaritan people.
586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its temple, and exiles a significant portion of the Jewish population to Babylon. This leaves Jerusalem in ruins and its defenses breached.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Edict
After conquering Babylon, Persian King Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the post-exilic period.
c. 445-433 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Return and Wall Repair
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, receives permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Despite fierce opposition from surrounding peoples led by Sanballat and Tobiah, the work progresses.
c. 444 BC
Opposition Intensifies
As the repairs to Jerusalem's walls advance, local leaders like Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and surrounding groups such as Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, grow increasingly angry and conspire to attack the city and stop the work.
This passage shows a similar pattern of opposition arising when a group (Israelites in Egypt) begins to flourish and grow, stirring up fear and malicious plans in those in power, just as the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls angered its enemies.
Psalm 2:1-4This psalm describes the nations raging and plotting against the Lord and His anointed, mirroring the futile anger and conspiracy of Sanballat and his allies against Nehemiah and God's people.
Ezra 4:1-5This earlier account shows that the opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem was not new; the enemies tried to intimidate and corrupt the builders during the Temple reconstruction, demonstrating a long-standing pattern of resistance to God’s work.
Galatians 5:17This verse highlights the ongoing spiritual conflict between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit, which can manifest in the irrational and hostile opposition seen from Sanballat and his allies against Nehemiah's constructive efforts.
1 Peter 4:12-13This passage reminds believers that fiery trials and opposition from those who do not understand or value God's work are to be expected, encouraging a steadfast faith even when facing the kind of anger and conspiracy Nehemiah encountered.
pulpitNehemiah 4:7: "But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,"
Verse 7. - It came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, at Samaria, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, in their respective residences, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, or "that the (entire) wall of Jerusalem was…
clarkeNehemiah 4:7: "But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,"
The walls of Jerusalem were made up - That is, they were made up to the half height of the wall; for the preceding verse seems to intimate that the whole wall was thus far built; not half of the wall completed, but the whole wall built to half its height…
The enemies' anger wasn't just because the wall was being repaired, but specifically because the "breaches," the open wounds in Jerusalem's defenses, were starting to be "stopped" or "closed." This reveals their fury wasn't about progress in general, but the healing and restoration of what they had broken.
Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem have begun rebuilding the city walls, making significant progress despite earlier mockery. When their enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and various neighboring peoples like the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites—hear that the work is moving forward and the breaches are being sealed, their frustration boils over into intense anger. This news fuels their determination to stop the project, leading them to plot military action against Jerusalem.
Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem have begun rebuilding the city walls, making significant progress despite earlier mockery. When their enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and various neighboring peoples like the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites—hear that the work is moving forward and the breaches are being sealed, their frustration boils over into intense anger. This news fuels their determination to stop the project, leading them to plot military action against Jerusalem.
"But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plo…" — The enemies' anger wasn't just because the wall was being repaired, but specifically because the "breaches," the open wounds in Jerusalem's defenses, were starting to be "stopped" or "closed." This r…
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Last reviewed October 2026
