Bible Strands
Nehemiah 2:10
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah reports that after securing royal letters and military escort from the governors west of the Euphrates, he learned that Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official had heard of his arrival. This report occurs immediately before his three-day stay in Jerusalem.
The words — The Hebrew וַיֵּרַע (va-yi-re'a) literally means "it was displeasing" or "it was evil," denoting their negative reaction to the news. The term עֶבֶד ('eved) translates to "servant" but functions here as an administrative title for Tobiah, the Ammonite official.
The thread — Their reported disturbance over Nehemiah's mission reappears in Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 4:7, and Nehemiah 6:1 as they repeatedly hear about his rebuilding efforts and respond with opposition.
Why it lands — The text records a factual political resistance to a restoration project, demonstrating that organized regional powers consistently oppose external agents who come to seek the well-being of a displaced population.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
- Nehemiah 4:7 When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
- Nehemiah 6:1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—
- Nehemiah 13:4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God
- Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
- Ezekiel 25:6 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you clapped your hands and stomped your feet and rejoiced over the land of Israel with a heart full of contempt,
- Acts 19:26 And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
- Numbers 22:3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
- Nehemiah 4:1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
- Psalms 112:10 The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.