Atomic Bible

Ammonite official who opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts

Tobiah

Named in 12 verses of Nehemiah, first in Nehemiah 2:10.

טוֹבִיָּ֫הוּTobiah

The name means “Tobijah, the Lord is good.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Married to
Daughter of Shecaniah
Children
Jehohanan
People
Ammon

About Tobiah Written by AI

Tobiah, described as an Ammonite official, was one of the main opponents of Nehemiah during the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:10). Along with Sanballat the Horonite and Geshem the Arab, Tobiah mocked and threatened Nehemiah and the Jews, trying to discourage and intimidate them from completing the work. Tobiah had close ties with some of the Jewish nobles, who kept him informed about Nehemiah's activities (Nehemiah 6:17 to 19). He even had a room in the temple courts, which Nehemiah later cleared out (Nehemiah 13:4 to 8). Despite the opposition and threats, Nehemiah persevered in rebuilding the walls, trusting in God's protection and strength. Tobiah's actions demonstrate the political and social challenges faced by Nehemiah in his efforts to restore Jerusalem and reform the Jewish community.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Tobiah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Pleasing to Jehovah, the “servant,” the “Ammonite,” who joined with those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Exile (Neh. 2:10). He was a man of great influence, which he exerted in opposition to the Jews, and “sent letters” to Nehemiah “to put him in fear” (Neh. 6:17-19). “Eliashib the priest” prepared for him during Nehemiah’s absence “a chamber in the courts of the house of God,” which on his return grieved Nehemiah sore, and therefore he “cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber” (13:7, 8).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 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.

  2. 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?”

  3. Nehemiah 4:3

    Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

  4. 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,

  5. 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—

  6. Nehemiah 6:12

    I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

  7. Nehemiah 6:14

    O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

  8. Nehemiah 6:17

    Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them.

  9. Nehemiah 6:19

    Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

  10. 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

  11. Nehemiah 13:7

    to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

  12. Nehemiah 13:8

    And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.