Nehemiah 6:12 - Exposition

And, lo, I perceived , etc. Rather, "And I considered; and lo! God had not sent him." I reflected on the whole matter, and came to the conclusion that, though he might be a prophet, he had not on this occasion exercised his prophetical office—he had not declared to me God's will (compare the case of the "old prophet," 1 Kings 13:11-18 ). And I was right, "for (in fact) he had pronounced this prophecy against me, because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him ." "Tobiah and Sanballat" here—not "Sanballat and Tobiah," as elsewhere ( Nehemiah 2:10 , Nehemiah 2:19 ; Nehemiah 4:7 ; Nehemiah 6:1 ), because Tobiah was no doubt the immediate briber, Sanballat merely furnishing the funds.