(17) Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. (18) For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. (19) Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
That the nobles of Judah should have been in this base conduct against Nehemiah, must have occasioned many painful feelings in his mind. We wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Ephesians 6:12.