Nehemiah 6:4 — Meaning and Application

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.

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I {am} doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

Wherein {was} written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith {it, that} thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. {Gashmu: also called, Geshem}