Overview
Sanballat the Horonite served as governor of Samaria during Nehemiah's time and led fierce opposition to the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls (445 BCE). Along with Tobiah and Geshem, he mocked, threatened, and conspired against the Jewish workers, yet Nehemiah persevered in prayer and faith.
Key Scriptures
"But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites, they were greatly disturbed" (Nehemiah 2:10, NIV).
"When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews" (Nehemiah 4:1, NIV).
"So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God" (Nehemiah 6:15-16, NIV).
Application
When facing opposition to God's work, maintain steady faith and prayer rather than becoming discouraged by worldly resistance.