- TOBIAH, an Ammonite, and Enemy to the Jews. He was one of those that strenuously opposed the rebuilding of the Temple, after the Return from the Captivity of Babylon.1 This Tobiah is called the Servant, or Slave, in some Places of Nehemiah; probably because he was of a servile Condition. Yet, however, he was of great Consideration in the Land of the Samaritans, of which he was Governor with Sanballat. This Tobiah married the Daughter of Shechaniah, one of the principal Neh. vi. 18.Jews of Jerusalem, and had a powerful Party in Jerusalem itself, who were opposite to that of Nehemiah. He maintained a Correspondence by Letter with this Party, against the Interests of Nehemiah; but this Neh. vi. 17,18, 19.prudent Governor, by his Wisdom and Moderation, defeated all their Machinations. In the mean time, Nehemiah was obliged to return to Babylon, after he had repaired the Walls of Jerusalem.2 Tobiah took this Opportunity to come and dwell at Jerusalem, and even obtained of Eliashib,
who had the care of the House of the Lord, to have an Apartment in the Temple. But at Nehemiah’s Return from Babylon, some Years after, he drove Tobiah out of the Courts of the Temple, and threw his Goods out of the Holy Place.3 From this time the Scripture makes no farther mention of Tobiah: ‘Tis probable he retired to Sanballat at Samaria.
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