Geshem
Summary
An Arabian who joined Sanballat and Tobiah in opposing Nehemiah's efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
☩Opposition to Nehemiah
Geshem (also called Gashmu) was an Arabian, probably the chief of an Arab tribe settled in southern Palestine or the Arabian desert. He was a confederate of Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite in strenuously opposing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. When Nehemiah first arrived, these three mocked and despised the Jews' efforts, accusing them of rebelling against the Persian king.
☩Plots Against Nehemiah
After initial mockery failed, Geshem and his allies repeatedly sought to entice Nehemiah to meet them on the plain of Ono, intending to do him harm. When this stratagem failed, a letter was sent in Gashmu's name accusing Nehemiah of planning rebellion and of setting up prophets to proclaim him king of Judah. These false accusations were designed to intimidate Nehemiah into abandoning the work, but he refused to be distracted from his mission.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Geshem," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Geshem," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Geshem," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Geshem," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).