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Nehemiah 6:2

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 6:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Nehemiah 6:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
2that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4And they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
← Nehemiah 6:1Nehemiah 6:3 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, etc.] Messengers: saying, come, let us meet together in some one of the villages; in Cephirim, which Jarchi takes to be the name of a place, perhaps the same with Cephirah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, (<061826>Joshua 18:26) in the plain of Ono; which was in the same tribe, (see <130812>1 Chronicles 8:12), they might pretend a friendly meeting, to accommodate differences between them, or to converse together about the general interest of the king of Persia in those parts: but they thought to do me mischief; to kill him, or at least to confine him; this he either conjectured from their general character and behaviour, or he had intelligence of their…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The choice made of Ono, on the skirts of Benjamin, 25 or 30 miles from Jerusalem, as the meeting-place, was, no doubt, in order to draw Nehemiah to a distance from his supporters, that so an attack might be made on him with a better chance of success. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Meet - To consult about the common service of our master the king of Persia, or to make a friendly accommodation. Nehemiah 6:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:2 The plain of Ono, located near Lod (Ezra 2:33), was probably a neutral site west of Jerusalem, where Nehemiah would have been unprotected.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Come: They wished to get him out of Jerusalem, from his friends, that they might either carry him off or murder him. Sa2 3:27, Sa2 20:9; Psa 37:12; Pro 26:24-26; Ecc 4:4 Ono: Neh 11:35; Ch1 8:12 they thought: Psa 12:2, Psa 37:12, Psa 37:32; Jer 41:2; Eze 33:31; Mic 7:4, Mic 7:5; Luk 20:19-21 Nehemiah 6:3”
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Related study paths

Read Nehemiah 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification