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Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Easy-to-Read Version

Nehemiah 2:10

Sanballat from Horon and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about what I was doing. They were very upset and angry that someone had come to help the Israelites.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Character;   Country;   Horonite;   Malice;   Sanballat;   Tobiah;   Scofield Reference Index - Tobiahs;   Thompson Chain Reference - Sanballat;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Character of the Wicked;   Envy;   Malice;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Sanaballat;   Tobiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ammon;   Persia;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Horonite;   Sanballat;   Tobiah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ammon;   Horonaim;   Nehemiah;   Sanballat;   Tobiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ammonites;   Horonite;   Nehemiah;   Sanballat;   Tobiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ammon, Ammonites;   Beth-Horon;   Horonite;   Isaiah, Book of;   Nehemiah;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Sanballat;   Tobiah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ammon, Ammonites, Children of Ammon;   Horonite ;   Sanballat ;   Tobiah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Sanballat;   Tobiah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Hor'onite;   Sanbal'lat;   Tobi'ah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Sanballat;   Tobiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Grief;   Horonite;   Sanballat;   Tobiah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Beth-Horon;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.
Hebrew Names Version
When Sanvallat the Horonite, and Toviyah the servant, the `Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Yisra'el.
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.
English Standard Version
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
New Century Version
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite officer heard about this, they were upset that someone had come to help the Israelites.
New English Translation
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.
Amplified Bible
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it caused them great displeasure that someone had come to see about the welfare and prosperity of the Israelites.
New American Standard Bible
And when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.
World English Bible
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah a seruant an Ammonite heard it, and it grieued them sore, that there was come a man which sought the wealth of the children of Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, and it was a very great evil to them that someone had come to seek the good of the sons of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
But when Sanballat from Horon and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about what had happened, they became very angry, because they didn't want anyone to help the people of Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible
When Sanvalat the Horoni and Toviyah the servant, the ‘Amoni, heard about this, they were very displeased that someone had come to promote the welfare of the people of Isra'el.
Darby Translation
And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobijah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
George Lamsa Translation
But 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.
Good News Translation
But Sanballat, from the town of Beth Horon, and Tobiah, an official in the province of Ammon, heard that someone had come to work for the good of the people of Israel, and they were highly indignant.
Lexham English Bible
But when Sanballat the Horonite and the Ammonite servant Tobiah heard this, they were greatly displeased that a person had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites.
Literal Translation
And Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard. And it grieved them greatly that a man had come to seek the good of the sons of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan Saneballath the Horonite, & Tobias the seruaunt of the Ammonites herde yt, it greued them sore, yt there was come a man which soughte the welth of the children of Israel.
American Standard Version
And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Bible in Basic English
And Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, hearing of it, were greatly troubled because a man had come to the help of the children of Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Sanaballat also the Horonite, and Tobia a seruaunt the Ammonite hearde of it, & it greeued them sore, that there was come a man which sought the wealth of the children of Israel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
King James Version (1611)
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the seruant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieued them exceedingly, that there was come a man, to seeke the welfare of the children of Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Sanaballat the Aronite heard it, and Tobia the servant, the Ammonite, and it was grievous to them that a man was come to seek good for the children of Israel.
English Revised Version
And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Sanaballath Oronythes, and Tobie, the seruaunt Amanytes, herden, and thei weren soreuful bi greet turment, for a man was comun, that souyte prosperite of the sones of Israel.
Update Bible Version
And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the slave, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for man came to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
New King James Version
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official [fn] heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.
New Living Translation
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.
New Life Bible
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite workman heard about it, they were not pleased that someone had come to make things go well for the sons of Israel.
New Revised Standard
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite, heard of it, it vexed them, with a great vexation, - that there had come a man, to seek welfare, for the sons of Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the Ammonite, heard it, and it grieved them exceedingly, that a man was come, who sought the prosperity of the children of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
But when Sanbal'lat the Hor'onite and Tobi'ah the servant, the Ammonite, heard this, it displeased them greatly that some one had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
and Sanballat the Horonite heareth, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and it is evil to them -- a great evil -- that a man hath come in to seek good for the sons of Israel.
THE MESSAGE
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very upset, angry that anyone would come to look after the interests of the People of Israel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

Contextual Overview

9 So I went to the governors of the area west of the Euphrates River and gave them the letters from the king. The king had also sent army officers and soldiers on horses with me. 10 Sanballat from Horon and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about what I was doing. They were very upset and angry that someone had come to help the Israelites. 11I went to Jerusalem and stayed there three days. Then at night I started out with a few men. I had not said anything to anyone about what my God had put on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no horses with me except the horse I was riding. 13 While it was dark I went out through the Valley Gate. I rode toward the Dragon Well and the Gate of the Ash Piles. I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates in the wall that had been burned with fire. 14 Then I rode on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool. As I got close, I could see there was not enough room for my horse to get through. 15 So I went up the valley in the dark, inspecting the wall. Finally, I turned back and went back in through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials and important Israelites didn't know where I had gone. They didn't know what I was doing. I had not yet said anything to the Jews, the priests, the king's family, the officials, or any of the other people who would be doing the work. 17 Then I said to them, "You can see the trouble we have here: Jerusalem is a pile of ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Then we will not be ashamed anymore." 18 I also told them that my God had been kind to me. I told them what the king had said to me. Then they answered, "Let's start to work, now!" So we began this good work. 19 But Sanballat from Horon, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard that we were building again. They made fun of us in a very ugly way. They said, "What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Sanballat: Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 4:1-3, Nehemiah 4:7, Nehemiah 6:1

Horonite: Isaiah 15:5, Jeremiah 48:5, Jeremiah 48:34

the servant: Proverbs 30:22, Ecclesiastes 10:7

the Ammonite: Nehemiah 13:1

it grieved: Numbers 22:3, Numbers 22:4, Psalms 112:10, Psalms 122:6-9, Proverbs 27:4, Ezekiel 25:6-8, Micah 7:9, Micah 7:10, Micah 7:16, Micah 7:17, Acts 4:2, Acts 5:24, Acts 19:26, Acts 19:27

there was come: Ezra 4:4-23

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:3 - Tobiah Nehemiah 6:16 - when all our enemies Esther 10:3 - seeking Psalms 122:9 - I will seek Jeremiah 30:21 - nobles Jeremiah 41:10 - to the

Cross-References

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams bring happiness to God's city, to the holy city of God Most High.
Revelation 22:1
The angel showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal. The river flows from the throne of God and the Lamb.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When Sanballat the Horonite,.... Who either presided at Horonaim, or sprung from thence, a city of Moab, Isaiah 15:5

and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite; who was formerly a slave, but now raised, from a low mean estate, to be governor in the land of Ammon, though still a vassal of the king of Persia:

heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there came a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel; to which the Moabites and Ammonites were always averse, and ever bore an hatred to Israel, and envied everything that tended to their happiness.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The name Sanballat is probably Babylonian the first element being the same which commences “Sennacherib,” namely, “Sin,” the moon-God, and the second balatu, “eminent” (?),which is found in the Assyrian name, Bel-balatu. As a Horonite, he was probably a native of one of the Bethhorons, the upper or the lower (see Joshua 16:3, Joshua 16:5; 2 Chronicles 8:5), and therefore born within the limits of the old kingdom of Samaria. Tobiah seems to have been an Ammonite slave, high in the favor of Sanballat, whom he probably served as secretary Nehemiah 6:17-19 and chief adviser.

It grieved them - Compare Ezra 4:4-24; Ezra 5:6-17. The revival of Jerusalem as a great and strong city, which was Nehemiah’s aim, was likely to interfere with the prosperity, or at any rate the eminence, of Samaria.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Nehemiah 2:10. Sanballat the Horonite — Probably a native of Horonaim, a Moabite by birth, and at this time governor of the Samaritans under the king of Persia.

Tobiah the servant — He was an Ammonite; and here, under the Persian king, joint governor with Sanballat. Some suppose that the Sanballat here mentioned was the same who persuaded Alexander to build a temple on Mount Gerizim in favour of the Samaritans. Pelagius thinks there were two governors of this name.


 
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