Definition: Therefore [was] he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Nehemiah 6:13. It’s a really important and slightly unsettling passage about leadership and responsibility. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a leader (we’ll call him “he”) who was deliberately trying to cause trouble for the people of Jerusalem, hoping to make them look bad and ashamed. He was essentially seeking to shame them into doing something wrong. Let's unpack it word by word: “Therefore [was] he hired…” - This means this leader was tasked with a specific job – to cause trouble. “…that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil report…” - This is the core of the verse. He’s telling us he wanted to do something wrong – to provoke shame and negative attention on the people of Jerusalem. The word "matter" here suggests a significant impact, like a scandal or a lasting bad reputation. “…that they might reproach me.” - This is the key consequence. “Reclaim” or “ reproach” means to criticize, to make someone look foolish or ashamed. The leader was hoping this would lead to the people of Jerusalem looking down on him and his actions. Putting it all together: Nehemiah 6:13 describes a leader who deliberately set out to cause trouble for the sake of making the people of Jerusalem look bad. He wanted to provoke shame and criticism, hoping it would damage their reputation and bring them into disfavor. It's a very serious situation – it highlights the potential dangers of unchecked power and the importance of ethical leadership. Important Context: This passage is found in the Book of Nehemiah, which tells us about the leader's actions while he was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after a period of chaos. It’s a cautionary tale about the consequences of seeking to cause harm through wrongdoing. --- Do you want me to explain any specific aspect of this verse in more detail? For example, we could talk about: The context of Nehemiah’s situation What "reclaim" or " reproach" means Why this verse is a warning about leadership