Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Pleasing to Jehovah, the “servant,” the “Ammonite,” who joined with those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Exile (Neh. 2:10). He was a man of great influence, which he exerted in opposition to the Jews, and “sent letters” to Nehemiah “to put him in fear” (Neh. 6:17-19). “Eliashib the priest” prepared for him during Nehemiah’s absence “a chamber in the courts of the house of God,” which on his return grieved Nehemiah sore, and therefore he “cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber” (13:7, 8).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(goodness of Jehovah).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
TOBI'AH (goodness of Jehorak). One whose descendants came from Babylon with Zerubbabel, but who could not prove whether they were of Israel, owing to the loss of their family-tree. Ezr 2:60; Neh 7:62. An Ammonite of considerable influence, and a leader in the opposition which was made to the rebuilding of the temple by Nehemiah.
Being connected by marriage with some influential families, he became the head of a formidable party, and maintained a correspondence with the nobles of Judah adverse to the interests of Nehemiah and his party, and even descended to threats, expecting by these to deter him from the prosecution of his purpose.
During the absence of Nehemiah from Jerusalem, Tobiah obtained apartments in the temple for his private residence; but Nehemiah, as soon as he returned to Jerusalem, expelled him and his furniture from the holy place, and ordered the chamber which had been thus desecrated to be thoroughly cleansed.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
Tobijah, the Lord is good