“Among the nations it is rumored 1 (and Geshem 2 has substantiated 3 this) that you and the Jews have intentions of revolting, and for this reason you are building the wall. Furthermore, according to these rumors 4 you are going to become their king.
9:32 “So now, our God – the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity 5 – do not regard as inconsequential 6 all the hardship that has befallen us – our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people – from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!
1 tn Heb “heard.”
2 tn Heb “Gashmu”; in Neh 2:19 this name appears as Geshem. Since it is important for the modern reader to recognize that this is the same individual, the form of the name used here in the translation is the same as that in v. 19.
3 tn Heb “is saying.”
4 tn Heb “words.” So also in v. 7.
5 tn Heb “the covenant and loyal love.” The expression is a hendiadys. The second noun retains its full nominal sense, while the first functions adjectivally: “the covenant and loyalty” = covenant fidelity.
6 tn Heb “do not let it seem small in your sight.”