Nehemiah 6:17 (LSB)

Passage

Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Nearby Context

Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 6:16 Now it happened that when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, their confidence fell. And they knew that it was from our God that this work had been accomplished.

Nehemiah 6:17 Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Nehemiah 6:18 For many in Judah were sworn by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as a wife.

Nehemiah 6:19 Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and bringing my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "days", "letters", "went", "nobles", "judah", and "tobiah". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "days" and "letters", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Now it happened that when all our..." into verse 18's "For many in Judah were sworn by...", so "days" and "letters" belong inside that flow. In Nehemiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "days" and "letters" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.