That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [some one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Ver. 2. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me] As if solicitous of my safety, and careful of the common good. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him. When he speaketh fair believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart, Proverbs 26:24,25. Nehemiah well knew that all this pretended courtesy was but dross upon dirt, Nehemiah 6:13, a fair glove drawn upon a foul hand, a cunning collusion to undo him. He therefore keeps aloof: quia me vestigia terrent, &c.
Come, let us meet together] Thus they called him to conference and consultation whiles the doors were not yet upon the gates; purposely to take him off the work; as the fox diverts the huntsman from following the hare; and as our deceitful hearts do too often draw us away from the prosecution of good purposes, by casting many other odd impertinent matters an our way.
In the plain of Ono] Which was in the tribe of Benjamin, Nehemiah 11:30,31, near to Jerusalem; that he might the sooner come, and be the more secure; so the Papists appointed Trent for their conventicle, as near to the Reformed Churches; inviting their divines thereunto sub fide publica; under public trust, but that council was carried by the pope and his complices, with such infinite guile and craft, without any sincerity, upright dealing, and truth, as that the Protestants, Calvin, Buret, &c., kept off; as seeing that it was to no purpose to come among them.
But they thought to do me mischief] To kill me, or, at least, to captivate me.