After the wall was finished and the people began rebuilding their houses; after Ezra had preached such an inspiring sermon on the law, you can almost predict what would happen next.  Nehemiah went back to the king to report on all that had been done.  And the leaders of the surrounding clans and tribes turned to politics.

And who did they involve?  Eliashib, a priest.  Just when you think things are going right in the church, the devil himself messes up everything.

"...Eliashib the priest (these people have funny names), who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, was related by marriage to Tobiah our adversary (bad combination)."  When Sanballat (an Arab), and Tobiah heard that the walls were going up and the breaches were being closed, they were very angry. They plotted together to fight against Jerusalem, to injury and cause confusion and failure.

But the wall was finished so quickly, the enemies sent an emissary and said, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain."  Nehemiah answered, "Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to you?"  He knew they plotting to kill him.

Nehemiah 13:21 "...I reproved and warned them, saying, Why do you lodge by the wall?  If you do so again, I will lay hands on you..."   And he commanded the priests to guard the gates.

Can't you just picture this man.  He must have been six foot five and weighed two fifty pounds.  But since we know that he was a Jew, that is not likely.  Just goes to show what God can do with a common person when you listen to him.