Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. – Nehemiah 6:19

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 20, 2014): Nehemiah 6

On August 11, 1415, Henry V of England sailed for France. His dream was to combine the crowns of England and France into one Royal authority. The battle was successful, but it did not result in the French crown for Henry. So Henry renewed his war with France in 1417. This war ended with the Treaty of Troyes which included two important concessions by France. First, it gave the throne of France to Henry V of England, at least Henry V would be king after the death of Charles VI. And secondly, the treaty gave the French Princess and daughter of the reigning French King Charles VI, Catherine of Valois, to Henry as his wife. This was a move to truly consolidate the two crowns together. Charles VII, the heir apparent of France, was declared to be Illegitimate in the treaty, which meant that any son born to Henry and Catherine would be the direct heir of both thrones.

Henry and Catherine in their short marriage had one son, who they named Henry. But in 1422, both Henry V (August 31) and Charles VI (October 21) died. The result was that the infant son of Henry and Catherine would now be King over both countries, except that the French now refused to accept the Treaty of Troyes and Henry VI and rebelled, making Charles VII King of France. With all of the moves of Henry V to consolidate the two crowns, ultimately the moves failed and France and England took different paths once again.

And if you are confused by all of this, it isn’t really much of surprise. In some ways, that is what Henry was hoping would happen – and that his family would emerge from the confusion as the French Royal family.

As Nehemiah closes this section of the story, we begin to see the reason why the priests of Judah and Nehemiah are at odds with each other. The priests have made some concessions which is affecting their view of the situation in Judah. Those who oppose the rebuilding, including Tobiah the Ammonite, have married the daughters of some important residents of Jerusalem. As a result, the priests are desiring that Nehemiah see the good in these men. But it is not necessarily the good of the nation that is their primary concern – it is the good of their daughters who they have married off, and possibly married off for political reasons. So the men try to convince Nehemiah of how good a man that Tobiah is proving to be.

But Nehemiah is just not seeing it. Maybe because he does not have a daughter, or a friend’s daughter, involved with these men, Nehemiah is able to look at the situation with more detachment and objectivity. Nehemiah totally understands the benefit that the men of Jerusalem are bringing to Tobiah. What he is not sure of is what benefit Tobiah is bringing to Jerusalem – and he is stating his opinion to anyone who will listen.

So Tobiah changes tactics and begins to try to threaten and intimidate Nehemiah. Like Henry V, the Political marriages were supposed to bring them closer to their goals, but in this minute they begin to see their goals drifting away. Nehemiah is simply more concerned with God’s plan for Judah than he is with Tobiah’s. And no agreement or marriage with anyone is going to change that concern.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 7