Sending Letters - Nehemiah 6:17

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said about the completion of the barrier wall surrounding Jerusalem, “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God”, and in chapter six and verse seventeen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah”, where we read,

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, 

and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

The verse reads, “Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “moreover in those days” or “in addition within the sunrises and sunsets” “the nobles of Judah” which means “the white, pure and freeborn ones belonging to Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “sent many letters” or “dispatched and assigned numerous and an exceeding amounts of missives and epistles” “unto Tobiah” which means “to Tobiah whose name means Jehovah is good”. Nehemiah shared how the freeborn ones belonging to “Judah” dispatched numerous missives to “Tobiah”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and the letters of Tobiah” or “and the missives and epistles belonging to Tobiah whose name means Jehovah is good” “came unto them” which means “were brought in to them, the nobles of Judah”. Nehemiah shared how “Tobiah” was dispatching missives to the people of “Judah”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how a series of epistles went back and forth from “Tobiah” to the freeborn ones of “Judah”, and we shall see why in our next few verses. These “nobles” and “Tobiah” were in alliance with one another, and because “Tobiah” was an enemy and foe to “Nehemiah”, they were also in rebellion. God wants us to follow Him through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross and be raised from the grave after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to continue to align with Him and His ways and to avoid all leaders and groups who are in opposition to Him. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “there were many in Judah sworn unto him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".