The infamous counsel given by Shemaiah was seconded by more than one man of high reputation, who, while professing to be Nehemiah's friends, were secretly in league with his enemies. But it was to no avail that they laid their snare. Nehemiah's fearless answer was: "Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." 657

Det nedrige råd, som Sjemaja gav, blev billiget af flere ansete israelitter, som bekendte sig til at være Nehemias' venner, men som i virkeligheden stod i ledtog med hans fjender. Deres forsøg på at fange ham var dog forgæves. Nehemias svarede frygtløst: "Skulle en mand som jeg flygte? Og hvorledes skulle en mand som jeg kunne betræde helligdommen og blive i live? Jeg går ikke derind!"