Nehemiah 6:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Faced with the onslaught of adversaries, Nehemiah approaches Shemaiah's dwelling as though he were visiting a trusted friend and brother. However, he soon discovers that Shemaiah has betrayed him, having succumbed to the corrupt influences of his foes and allied himself with them. The faithful are often besieged by external assaults and internal anxieties, as illustrated in Scripture (2 Cor. 7:5). Not only did the apostles experience peril from their own, but the prophets too encountered danger both from Gentiles and false brethren (2 Cor. 11:26).