15. The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul; the work had taken fifty-two days.
16. When all our enemies had heard of this, and all the neighboring Gentiles round about had taken note of it, they were very discouraged, for they knew that it was with our God’s help that this work had been completed.
17. At that same time, however, many letters were going to Tobiah from the nobles of Judah, and Tobiah’s letters were reaching them,
18. for many in Judah were in league with him, since he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.
19. They would praise his good deeds in my presence and relate to him whatever I said; and Tobiah sent letters trying to intimidate me.