In spite of continued efforts to frustrate the task of rebuilding and slow down the work of constructing the wall, Nehemiah's efforts met with great success. The wall was completed in only 52 days (vs. 15).
Nehemiah's enemies did not let up in their opposition. Four times they sent messengers to Nehemiah, asking him to meet with them. Each time Nehemiah refused, sending messages back that he was too busy with the work to stop. The fifth time, Sanballat directly accuses Nehemiah of rebuilding the wall as a prelude to rebellion against Artaxerxes and declaring himself king over Judah! Again, Nehemiah knows that they are just trying to frighten him into submission. He refuses, and instead appeals to God for His protection.
Nehemiah's enemies are so determined to sidetrack his project that they secretly hire a man named Shemaiah to try to dissuade him through fear. Shemaiah tells Nehemiah that there's a plot against his life and that he should go hide in the temple for sanctuary. Nehemiah rejects this suggestion, knowing that he must show no fear or cowardice if he is to inspire the people to follow him. The plans of his enemies were thus frustrated.
Because Nehemiah had pushed to finish the work so quickly, his opponents ran out of time to stop it. In only 52 days, the project was completed. The result? Just what Nehemiah had hoped for. "And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God" (vs. 16). Thanks to Nehemiah's ingenuity and the Lord's faithfulness, Jerusalem was now safe and protected once again.
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