Both Ezra and Nehemiah resisted the efforts of foreigners to become involved in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It was inevitable that foreigners of influence and ambition in the region would be hostile to the returning Jews. Sanballat the Horonite, and Geshem the Arabian and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite1 Neh. 2:19were three such leaders. Acting together, they attempted to hinder Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. They were not independent chieftains: Tobiah was Sanballat’s servant and counsellor, while Geshem was probably the leader of an Arabian company mostly in his service.
Tobiah was a Persian governor of Ammon during the postexilic period (cf. Neh_2:10; Neh_2:19; Neh_4:7). Ammon was located east of Jordan river. The Ammonites were descendants of Ben-ammi, who was the son of Lot (Abraham’s nephew) and Lot’s younger daughter (Gen. 19:38). Tobiah seems to have been a Jew – his name means “Yehovah is good”- who had attained a position similar to that of Sanballat in Ammon, east of Judah, under the Persians. He had intermarried with Jews (Neh. 6:17) who had returned to the land and were participating in the restoration projects led by Zerubbal, Ezra and Nehemiah, though Tobiah himself did not approve of the restoration. His marital and social ties with the princes of the restoration community resulted in their commending him to Nehemiah. In short, Nehemiah suffered from pressure that Tobiah and Nehemiah’s colleagues brought on him. This powerful Jew, who did not share God’s desires for His people, had considerable influence with many of the restoration leaders.
Tobiah took over the storerooms of the Temple for his own use.
Though Tobiah is called “the servant” or “slave” Neh_2:10, Neh_2:19, and was perhaps a bought slave (Probably a freed slave2E. W. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Notes. Nehemiah 2:10)of Sanballat’s, yet he was in such a position that Jewish nobles readily contracted affinity with him. This is quite in harmony with the practice of the East, where slaves often fill high positions and make great marriages.3The Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Dr. Constable’s Bible Study Notes). Nehemiah 6:18 Tobiah was married to a Jewess Neh_6:18, who may have been a relation of Eliashib; and his son Johanan was married to another Neh_6:18, of whom the same may be said.4The Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Dr. Constable’s Bible Study Notes). Nehemiah 13:4
Tobiah was counted as one of the chiefs of the Samaritans, along with Sanballat and Geshem, all of whom endeavored to thwart the Jeremiah’s work rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem by insults, by malicious insinuations by plots, and by threats of a hostile attack. “The Jews, notwithstanding, proceeded earnestly in their business, armed the laborers, protected them still further by a guard of armed citizens, and at length happily completed the walls of their city.5The Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Dr. Constable’s Bible Study Notes). Nehemiah Daniel 9:25”
Tobiah also had married a daughter of Shecaniah, a Judahite leader, and had given his son, Jehohanan, in marriage to the daughter of Meshullam, another Judahite leader,[6] for ostensibly political purposes. Because of this, he somehow gained enough of a Judahite coalition to use the Judahites themselves to send letters to Nehemiah, telling him of Tobiah’s “good deeds” in an apparent attempt to weaken Nehemiah’s resolve to keep Tobiah out of the rebuilding effort. Tobiah meanwhile sent intimidating letters directly to Nehemiah.
Eliashib was the high priest (Neh_3:1; Neh_3:20; Neh_13:28). He was evidently a close relative of Tobiah, the Jewish Ammonite leader who had opposed Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild the walls (Neh_2:19; Neh_6:1; Neh_6:17-18).
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