tobiah Summary and Overview

pleasing to Jehovah, the "servant," the "Ammonite," who joined with those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Exile (Neh. 2:10). He was a man of great influence, which he exerted in opposition to the Jews, and "sent letters" to Nehemiah "to put him in fear" (Neh. 6:17-19). "Eliashib the priest" prepared for him during Nehemiah's absence "a chamber in the courts of the house of God," which on his return grieved Nehemiah sore, and therefore he "cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber" (13:7, 8).

(goodness of Jehovah). 1. "The children of Tobiah" were a family who returned with Zerubbabel, but were unable to prove their connection with Israel -- #Ezr 2:60; Ne 7:62| (B.C. before 536.) 2. "Tobiah the slave, the Ammonite," played a conspicuous part in the rancorous position made by Sanballat the Moabite and his adherents to the rebuilding of Jerusalem. (B.C. 446.) The two races of Moab and Ammon found in these men fit representatives of that hereditary hatred to the Israelites which began before the entrance into Caanan, and was not extinct when the Hebrews had ceased to exist as a nation. But Tobiah, though a slave, #Ne 2:10,19| --unless, this is a title of opprobrium --and an Ammonite, found means to ally himself with a priestly family, and his son Johanan married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. #Ne 6:18| He himself was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, #Ne 6:17| and these family relations created for him a strong faction among the Jews.

TOBI'AH (goodness of Jehorak). 1. One whose descendants came from Babylon with Zerubbabel, but who could not prove whether they were of Israel, owing to the loss of their family-tree. Ezr 2:60; Neh 7:62. 2. An Ammonite of considerable influence, and a leader in the opposition which was made to the rebuilding of the temple by Nehemiah. Being connected by marriage with some influential families, he became the head of a formidable party, and maintained a correspondence with the nobles of Judah adverse to the interests of Nehemiah and his party, and even descended to threats, expecting by these to deter him from the prosecution of his purpose. During the absence of Nehemiah from Jerusalem, Tobiah obtained apartments in the temple for his private residence; but Nehemiah, as soon as he returned to Jerusalem, expelled him and his furniture from the holy place, and ordered the chamber which had been thus desecrated to be thoroughly cleansed. Neh 2:10, etc.

TOBIAH or TOBIJAH ("goodness of Jehovah".) 1. A Levite employed by Jehoshaphat to teach the law in the cities of Judah (2 Chronicles 17:8). 2. "The slave, the Ammonite." With Sanballat and Geshem tried by fair means and foul to thwart Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 6:17-18; Nehemiah 13:1-8). He had the greater power of mischief, being married into a Jewish family (the daughter of Shechaniah), and having his son Johanan married to the daughter of Meshullam, thus he had a Jewish party on his side. As Sanballat represented Moab's hereditary grudge against Israel, so Tobiah represented Ammon's. Eliashib was allied to Tobiah; possibly Sanballat, Eliashib's son in law, was related to Tobiah, and so Tobiah was connected with Eliashib (Nehemiah 13:4). Hence, it was deemed necessary to read before the people the law that "the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever" (Nehemiah 13:1). Tobiah was notorious for contemptuous sarcasm (Nehemiah 4:3-5), "even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall." Nehemiah winced under his scorn and appealed to God for vindication: "hear, O God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head." The psalmist of Psalm 123 (possibly Nehemiah) speaks in the person of Israel similarly of Moab's, Ammon's, and Samaria's contempt: "behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters (glancing in contrast at 'Tobiah the servant' or slave) so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God ... Have mercy upon us, for we are exceedingly filled with contempt; our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud." An undesigned coincidence between the psalm and the history. So also Psalm 79:4; Psalm 79:12, written at the same date (see Psalm 79:1) when the "holy temple" lay "defiled": "we are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us ... Render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach wherewith they have reproached Thee." Tobiah corresponded with the nobles of Judah of his party, many of whom were "sworn to him" because of affinity. These reported his good deeds before Nehemiah to win him over, and then reported Nehemiah's words to Tobiah, and wrote intimidating letters to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:17-19). His crowning impudence was residing in a chamber of the temple, of which the proper use was to be a store for the vessels, the tithes, and offerings for the Levites, priests, etc., Eliashib having dared, in defiance of the law, to prepare it for him. Nehemiah was sorely grieved, and cast all Tobiah's stuff out, and commanded the cleansing of the chambers (Nehemiah 13:1-9).