Nehemiah 6:15-19·~1 min

Completion of the Wall

The wall is completed in fifty-two days, and the surrounding peoples are shaken when they realize the work has been done by Israel’s God.

S¹⁵o the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul. ¹⁶When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

Even after the wall is finished, Judah’s nobles keep corresponding with Tobiah because of family alliances. They praise him before Nehemiah and carry words back and forth while Tobiah continues to send threats.

¹⁷Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them. ¹⁸For 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. ¹⁹Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Section summaryThe wall is finished in fifty-two days, and the surrounding nations lose heart when they see that God has accomplished it. Yet even in that moment of completion, Tobiah’s ties within Judah keep a channel of pressure and intimidation open.

Role in the chapterThis closing section completes the rebuilding and names its effect on the nations, while refusing a clean ending. The wall stands finished, but divided loyalties inside Judah remain a live threat.