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.
Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me. The Samaritan leaders, satisfied that they could not overcome Nehemiah by open arms, resolved to gain advantage over him by deceit and stratagem. With this view, under pretext of terminating their differences in an amicable manner, they invited him to a conference. The place of rendezvous was fixed "in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono." 'In the villages' (Heb.), 'in Cephirim,' or Cephirah, the name of a town in the territory of Benjamin (Joshua 9:17; Joshua 18:26). Nehemiah, however, apprehensive of some intended mischief, prudently declined the invitation; and, though it was repeated four times, his uniform answer was, that his presence could not be dispensed with from the important work in which he was engaged. This was one, though not the only reason. The principal ground of his refusal was, that his seizure or death at their hands would certainly put a stop to the further progress of the fortifications.