Sanballat's Opposition to the Rebuilding of Jerusalem's Wall
Sanballat, a Horonite, served as a prominent figure in Samaria during the mid-5th century BCE, holding a position of authority when Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem with the intention of rebuilding its walls [1, 3]. His opposition to Nehemiah's efforts is a central theme in the Book of Nehemiah.
Sanballat's animosity began immediately upon Nehemiah's arrival in Judea, as he was displeased by any measure that would benefit Jerusalem [1]. When Sanballat learned that the Jews were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and filled with indignation, openly ridiculing them [2, 10]. This initial opposition involved scoffs and insults, with Sanballat and his associates circulating disparaging remarks to foster hatred and contempt for the Jews [7].
The opposition intensified as the rebuilding progressed. Sanballat, along with Tobiah the Ammonite, the Arabs, and the Ashdodites, grew "very angry" when they heard that the restoration of Jerusalem's walls was advancing and gaps were being closed [4, 11]. This coalition of enemies from various directions—north (Sanballat), south (Arabs), east (Ammonites), and west (Ashdodites)—saw the reconstruction as a threat to their political power in the region [11].
Beyond ridicule and anger, Sanballat and his allies attempted to obstruct the work through more direct means. When open violence failed to stop the building, they resorted to secret snares [6]. They invited Nehemiah to meet them in the plain of Ono, intending to harm him, but Nehemiah, perceiving their malicious intent, refused to go [6, 9]. After repeated refusals, Sanballat sent an open letter to Nehemiah, accusing him of rebellion against the king and of planning to make himself king [6, 9]. He also employed false prophets to try and intimidate Nehemiah into fleeing to the temple for safety [9].
Sanballat's personal connection to the Jewish leadership further complicated matters. His daughter married one of the grandsons of Eliashib, the high priest, which caused Nehemiah great distress and led to the expulsion of the high priest's grandson from the priesthood [1, 3]. The motivation behind Sanballat's persistent opposition stemmed from the understanding that a rebuilt Jerusalem would shift the balance of political power in favor of the Jews, a prospect that greatly displeased the local non-Jewish officials [5, 8].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Sanballat — (strength), a Moabite of Horonaim. (Nehemiah 2:10,13; 13:28) He held apparently some command in Samaria at the time Nehemiah was preparing to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, B.C. 445, (Nehemiah 4:2) and from the moment of Nehemiah's arrival in Judea he set himself to oppose every measure for the welfare of Jerusalem. The only other incident in his life is his alliance with the high priest's family by the marriage of his daughter with one of the grandsons of Eliashib; but the expulsion from the priesthood of the guilty son of Joiada by Nehemiah promptly fol”
- Nehemiah “Nehemiah 4:1 (BSB) — Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanballat — Held some place of authority in Samaria when Nehemiah went up to Jerusalem to rebuild its ruined walls. He vainly attempted to hinder this work (Neh. 2:10, 19; 4:1-12; 6). His daughter became the wife of one of the sons of Joiada, a son of the high priest, much to the grief of Nehemiah (13:28).”
- Nehemiah “Nehemiah 4:7 (LEB) — Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem were going forward and the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.”
- Nehemiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Nehemiah 2:10: 2:10 Some of the local, non-Jewish officials were very displeased because rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem would change the balance of political power in favor of the Jews. • Sanballat was the main leader of opposition to Nehemiah’s rebuilding efforts. • the Horonite: He was probably from Upper or Lower Horon (Beth-horon, Josh 16:3), approximately 12 miles (19 kilometers) northwest of Jerusalem. Sanballat’s name might indicate that he was a descendant of the Assyrian people imported by Sargon II after the fall of Samaria (2 Kgs 17:24). A document discovered in ”
- Nehemiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Nehemiah 6:1: When Sanballat and the enemies associated with him were unable to obstruct the building of the wall of Jerusalem by Open violence (Neh 4), they endeavoured to ruin Nehemiah by secret snares. They invited him to meet them in the plain of Ono (Neh 6:1, Neh 6:2); but Nehemiah, perceiving that they intended mischief, replied to them by messengers, that he could not come to them on account of the building. After receiving for the fourth time this refusal, Sanballat sent his servant to Nehemiah with an open letter, in which he accused him of rebellion against the ki”
- Nehemiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Nehemiah 4 (introduction): WHILE THE ENEMIES SCOFF, NEHEMIAH PRAYS TO GOD, AND CONTINUES THE WORK. (Neh 4:1-6) when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth--The Samaritan faction showed their bitter animosity to the Jews on discovering the systematic design of refortifying Jerusalem. Their opposition was confined at first to scoffs and insults, in heaping which the governors made themselves conspicuous, and circulated all sorts of disparaging reflections that might increase the feelings of hatred and contempt for them in their own party. The weaknes”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Nehemiah 2:10: Now Sanballat etc., heard When they heard that I had come to request good for Israel and to build the walls of Jerusalem it displeased them greatly, for they were the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin.”
- Nehemiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Nehemiah 6 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 6 Sanballat and his brethren, hearing the wall was finished, sent to Nehemiah, to have a meeting with him at a place named, which he refused, Neh 6:1, then they sent him a terrifying letter, suggesting that he, and the Jews with him, would be treated as rebels, since their intention, as reported, was to make him king, which letter he regarded not, Neh 6:3, then they employed some that pretended to be prophets to advise him to flee to the temple for safety, which he rejected, Neh 6:10 and so the work went on and was finished, th”
- Nehemiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Nehemiah 4:1: But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall,.... Or were building it; for as yet it was not finished, see Neh 4:6, he was wroth, and took great indignation; inwardly, though outwardly he pretended to treat the work with contempt, as if it never would be accomplished, which yet he feared: and mocked the Jews; as a set of foolish builders, and unable to finish what they had begun.”
- Nehemiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Nehemiah 4:7: 4:7 Israel’s enemies from the north (Sanballat), the south (Arabs), the east (Ammonites), and the west (Ashdodites) were enraged by the speed and success of Jerusalem’s reconstruction, which threatened these opponents’ political power in the region.”