Mehetabel מְהֵיטַבְאֵל
Ancestor of Shemaiah, who opposed Nehemiah.
Who is Mehetabel in the Bible?
Mehetabel was an ancestor of Shemaiah, a man who opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. According to Nehemiah 6:10, Shemaiah is identified as "the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel," establishing Mehetabel's place in the family line. Shemaiah was hired by Nehemiah's enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, to intimidate and discredit the rebuilding project by falsely claiming there was a plot against Nehemiah's life. Though Mehetabel appears only as a name in the genealogy, his descendant's actions illustrate the opposition Nehemiah faced and demonstrate how Nehemiah discerned false prophecy and maintained his resolve to complete God's work despite the schemes of his adversaries.
Biography
Mehetabel is mentioned in the context of Nehemiah's efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Shemaiah, a man described as "the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel," was hired by Nehemiah's enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, to intimidate Nehemiah and hinder the work on the wall. Shemaiah invited Nehemiah to meet with him in the temple and suggested that they close the doors, claiming that there was a plot to kill Nehemiah. However, Nehemiah perceived that Shemaiah was not sent by God and that his prophecy was intended to frighten Nehemiah and discredit him (Neh.6.10-13). Mehetabel's role in this narrative is limited to being mentioned as an ancestor of Shemaiah, providing context for Shemaiah's background and family lineage.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentNehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 6:10
"Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you!”"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מְהֵיטַבְאֵל |