Bible Strands
Nehemiah 6:18
For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah records this detail in Nehemiah 6:18 to explain how internal opposition undermined his wall-building efforts. The verse identifies the mechanism of that opposition: kinship alliances that pulled many in Judah away from his leadership.
The words — The Hebrew text uses רַבִּים (rabim, "many") and בַּעֲלֵי שְבוּעָה (baalei shvuah, "masters of an oath") to describe the people bound to Nehemiah. It employs חָתָן (chatan, "son-in-law") to specify the marital link through Shecaniah son of Arah and Jehohanan.
The thread — The families named here appear in Ezra 2:5 and Nehemiah 7:10 as descendants of Arah returning from exile. The verse also echoes Nehemiah 3:4, which lists Meshullam son of Berechiah among those who physically repaired the walls.
Why it lands — The text states that marital ties created a network of obligation that diverted loyalty from the wall project to Tobiah. A reader must recognize how kinship bonds can fracture communal commitment to a stated mission.
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
For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
Cross-references
- Ezra 2:5 the descendants of Arah, 775;
- Nehemiah 7:10 the descendants of Arah, 652;
- Nehemiah 3:4 Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs; and next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs as well.
- Nehemiah 3:30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters.