10. Then I met secretly with Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, at his house. He said:Let’s meet at the house of God,inside The Temple;Let’s find safety behind locked doorsbecause they’re coming to kill you,Yes, coming by night to kill you.
11. I said, “Why would a man like me run for cover? And why would a man like me use The Temple as a hideout? I won’t do it.”
12-13. I sensed that God hadn’t sent this man. The so-called prophecy he spoke to me was the work of Tobiah and Sanballat; they had hired him. He had been hired to scare me off—trick me—a layman, into desecrating The Temple and ruining my good reputation so they could accuse me.