Nehemiah 6:10

“Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up, etc.] Either in his own house, or in a chamber in the temple, as if he had given himself up to meditation, fasting, and prayer; or, as he might suggest to Nehemiah, for his safety, and so designed it as an example to him; this man might be a priest of the course of Delaiah, (<132418>1 Chronicles 24:18) or however he was a person Nehemiah had a good opinion of, and came to him on the letters sent to him by his enemies, to consult with him, and the rest, since they had suggested that he had appointed prophets to speak of him as a king: and he said let us meet together in the house of God,…”

“Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah, &c.--This man was the son of a priest, who was an intimate and confidential friend of Nehemiah. The young man claimed to be endowed with the gift of prophecy. Having been secretly bribed by Sanballat, he, in his pretended capacity of prophet, told Nehemiah that his enemies were that night to make an attempt upon his life. He advised him, at the same time, to consult his safety by concealing himself in the sanctuary, a crypt which, from its sanctity, was strong and secure. But the noble-minded governor determined at all hazards to remain at his post, and not bring discredit on the cause of God and religion by his unworthy cowardice in leaving the…”

“Who was shut up - On account, probably, of some legal uncleaness. Compare Jeremiah 36:5. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Shut up - In his chamber adjoining to the temple, upon pretence of singular devotion, and communion with God, and withal upon pretence of certain knowledge, by the Spirit of God concerning their approaching danger, from which thy could be safe nowhere but in the temple. For if Nehemiah had done this, the people would have left their work, and every one have shifted for his own safety. Nehemiah 6:11”

“Shemaiah: Neh 6:12; Ezr 8:16, Ezr 10:31; Pro 11:9; Mat 7:15 shut up: Kg2 9:8; Jer 36:5; Eze 3:24 Let us meet: Psa 12:2, Psa 37:12, Psa 120:2, Psa 120:3 the house: Kg1 6:5; Kg2 11:3 let us shut: Ch2 28:24, Ch2 29:3, Ch2 29:7; Mal 1:10; Act 21:30 in the night: Job 24:13-17; Joh 3:20 Nehemiah 6:11”

“A false prophet, hired by Tobiah and Sanballat, also sought, by prophesying that the enemies of Nehemiah would kill him in the night, to cause him to flee with him into the holy place of the temple, and to protect his life from the machinations of his enemies by closing the temple doors. His purpose was, as Nehemiah subsequently learned, to seduce him into taking an illegal step, and so give occasion for speaking evil of him. Neh 6:10 "And I came into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up." Nothing further is known of this prophet Shemaiah. From what is here related we learn, that he was one of the lying prophets employed by Sanballat and Tobiah to…”