Ono
Summary
Ono was a town in Benjamin rebuilt after the exile, associated with the "plain of Ono" where Sanballat tried to lure Nehemiah into a trap.
☩Location and History
Ono was a town in the territory of Benjamin, built by Shemed, a Benjamite. The town was located in the plain (or valley) that bore its name, in the coastal lowlands of central Palestine. After the Babylonian exile, descendants of Lod and Ono, numbering 721, returned to their ancestral territory. The town was inhabited by Benjamites during the post-exilic period.
☩Sanballat's Plot
The plain of Ono became notable as the location where Sanballat and Geshem attempted to lure Nehemiah to a meeting, intending to harm him. Four times they sent word inviting Nehemiah to meet in one of the villages in the plain of Ono, but Nehemiah, perceiving their malicious intent, refused each time, responding that he was doing a great work and could not come down. This episode demonstrates Nehemiah's discernment and determination to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls despite opposition.