Tobiah
The Insider Opponent of God’s Work
Name Information
- Meaning: "The Lord is good"
- Language of Origin: Hebrew
- Gender Usage: Masculine
Tobiah was an Ammonite official who allied with Sanballat to oppose Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. He used ridicule, threats, and political connections to hinder the work, and even maintained family ties within Jerusalem’s nobility.
⏰ Post-Exilic Period
Roles
- Ammonite Official
- Opponent of the Jews
Relationships
- Enemy: Nehemiah
- Friend: Sanballat
Story
Joined Sanballat in mocking the rebuilding effort, saying even a fox could break their wall.
Plotted with others to attack Jerusalem, but failed due to Nehemiah’s vigilance.
Used family ties to influence Jewish leaders against Nehemiah.
Given a temple room by Eliashib the priest, but was expelled by Nehemiah during reforms.
Spiritual Significance
- Worked with Sanballat to mock and threaten the builders.
- Tried to discourage the Jews from completing the wall.
- Had marriage alliances with Jewish nobles, creating divided loyalties.
- Illegally occupied a temple storeroom until Nehemiah removed him.
Christ Connection
Tobiah’s role as an insider opponent reflects the betrayal Jesus experienced from Judas, who acted from within His circle.
Like Nehemiah cleansing the temple of Tobiah’s presence, Jesus cleansed the temple of corrupt influences.
What We Can Learn
- Compromise with enemies of God’s work weakens His people.
- Spiritual leaders must guard against infiltration by those opposed to God’s purposes.
- Persistence in opposition calls for persistence in obedience.
Memory Verses
What they are building — even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!
— Nehemiah 4:3
Key Passages
- Nehemiah 2:10–13:9
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