Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 6:2
That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [some one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
2. Sanballat and Geshem ] It is noticeable that Tobiah’s name is not also mentioned. Some commentators have held that this omission is to be accounted for by the fact of Tobiah being ‘the mere servant of Sanballat’ (see Neh 2:10). But the explanation seems very improbable when we consider the prominence of Tobiah in Neh 2:10; Neh 2:19, Neh 4:7, Neh 6:17; Neh 6:19, Neh 13:7-8, and the way in which his name is mentioned in Neh 6:12; Neh 6:14. It is better to suppose that Nehemiah’s enemies deputed two of the most crafty of their number to make these overtures for an interview. An invitation to meet and discuss matters with only two of the leaders would wear a friendly and innocent appearance. Perhaps Tobiah and the other conspirators were intended to take advantage of Nehemiah’s absence and to make a surprise attack upon Jerusalem.
in some one of the villages ] R.V. in one of the villages. According to this translation the invitation leaves it open to Nehemiah to select the place of meeting. But literally the Hebrew gives ‘in the villages (Chephirim)’. It is very possible that this word gives the name of a place (cf. Chephirah, Ezr 2:25), as Rashi long ago suggested. It is certainly natural to expect that Sanballat and Geshem would name a place for the proposed interview; and the form of the Hebrew word favours this explanation. The proposed meeting-place then would be ‘Hacchephirim.’
in the plain of Ono ] On Ono, see Ezr 2:33 (Neh 7:37; Neh 11:35; 1Ch 8:12). An interview in the plain of Ono would have necessitated Nehemiah’s absence from Jerusalem during three or four days. The object of his enemies was doubtless to seize or assassinate him at a distance from Jerusalem.
thought to do me mischief ] ‘thought’ i.e. ‘considered how.’ Cf. Neh 6:6, ‘ think to rebel.’ Gen 50:20, ‘ye thought (R.V. meant) evil against me.’ ‘Mischief,’ lit. ‘evil,’ by which expression Nehemiah hints that his foes plotted to assassinate him. Cf. 1Sa 23:9, ‘Saul devised mischief.’ Est 8:3, ‘the mischief of Haman the Agagite.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The choice made of Ono, on the skirts of Benjamin, 25 or 30 miles from Jerusalem, as the meeting-place, was, no doubt, in order to draw Nehemiah to a distance from his supporters, that so an attack might be made on him with a better chance of success.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Come, let us meet together in – the plain of Ono.] They wished to get him out of Jerusalem from among his friends, that they might either carry him off, or murder him. Ono is supposed to have been in the tribe of Benjamin, near Jordan.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Let us meet together; to consult about the common service of our master the king of Persia, or to make a friendly accommodation.
Ono; a city in the tribe of Benjamin; of which see Neh 11:35; 1Ch 8:12.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2-4. Then Sanballat and Geshem sentunto meThe Samaritan leaders, convinced that they could notovercome Nehemiah by open arms, resolved to gain advantage over himby deceit and stratagem. With this in view, under pretext ofterminating their differences in an amicable manner, they invited himto a conference. The place of rendezvous was fixed “in someone of the villages in the plain of Ono.” “In thevillages” is, Hebrew, “in Cephirim,” or”Chephirah,” the name of a town in the territory ofBenjamin (Jos 9:17; Jos 18:26).Nehemiah, however, apprehensive of some intended mischief, prudentlydeclined the invitation. Though it was repeated four times,[Nehemiah’s] uniform answer was that his presence could not bedispensed with from the important work in which he was engaged. Thiswas one, though not the only, reason. The principal ground of hisrefusal was that his seizure or death at their hands would certainlyput a stop to the further progress of the fortifications.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me,…. Messengers:
saying, come, let us meet together in some one of the villages; in Cephirim, which Jarchi takes to be the name of a place, perhaps the same with Cephirah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:26
in the plain of Ono; which was in the same tribe, see 1Ch 8:12, they might pretend a friendly meeting, to accommodate differences between them, or to converse together about the general interest of the king of Persia in those parts:
but they thought to do me mischief; to kill him, or at least to confine him; this he either conjectured from their general character and behaviour, or he had intelligence of their design.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Sanballat and Geshem.In the original of Neh. 6:1, Tobiah is not distinguished from Sanballat by another preposition, as Geshem is; and here he is omitted, as not to appear in the conference otherwise than as Sanballats secretary.
In some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.Probably, in Hahkiphirem, the name of a village in the plain of Ono, which was on the borders of Philistia, more than twenty miles from Jerusalem.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Let us meet For conference.
Plain of Ono Probably the same as “the Valley of Craftsmen,” in Neh 11:35; some depression or torrent-bed close by Ono, in which that and other villages seem to have been located. Ono and Lod were Benjamite towns, built by Elpaal or by one of his sons. 1Ch 8:12. The Talmudists locate these towns three miles apart, and the modern village Kefr Ana, about five miles north of Lydda, is, perhaps, the representative of the ancient Ono.
Thought to do me mischief Designed either to assassinate him or take him prisoner.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 6:2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [some one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Ver. 2. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me ] As if solicitous of my safety, and careful of the common good. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him. When he speaketh fair believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart, Pro 26:24-25 . Nehemiah well knew that all this pretended courtesy was but dross upon dirt, Neh 6:13 , a fair glove drawn upon a foul hand, a cunning collusion to undo him. He therefore keeps aloof: quia me vestigia terrent, &c.
Come, let us meet together
In the plain of Ono
But they thought to do me mischief
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
some one of the villages = in Cepherim (Neh 7:29. Ezr 2:25); now Kefr ‘Ana, twenty-five miles from Jerusalem; eight miles east of Jaffa; six miles north of Lydda.
plain = valley, or combe.
Ono. Now Kefr ‘Ana, five miles north of Lydda (Ezr 2:33). Compare Ch. Neh 11:31.
mischief: to kill or capture Nehemiah. Compare Pro 26:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Come: They wished to get him out of Jerusalem, from his friends, that they might either carry him off or murder him. 2Sa 3:27, 2Sa 20:9, Psa 37:12, Pro 26:24-26, Ecc 4:4
Ono: Neh 11:35, 1Ch 8:12
they thought: Psa 12:2, Psa 37:12, Psa 37:32, Jer 41:2, Eze 33:31, Mic 7:4, Mic 7:5, Luk 20:19-21
Reciprocal: Gen 4:8 – talked Ezr 2:33 – Lod Neh 2:19 – Sanballat Neh 3:22 – the men of the plain Neh 6:6 – Gashmu Neh 6:16 – when all our enemies Neh 7:37 – Lod Neh 12:28 – plain