Nehemiah 6:18

sworn unto him, because hewas the son in law of, &c. -Sworn unto him." LXX. ἔνορκοι … αὐτῷ. It is implied that Tobiah's connexion by marriage ensured him the support of many leading Jews; the conjunction -because" suggests that the members of a family on welcoming a stranger within their circle, pledged themselves to him by an oath.

It is possible however to give a more general interpretation: many of the nobles conspired with Tobiah, and they had opportunities to meet him on account of his connexion by marriage. In Nehemiah 13:4 we find Eliashib the High-priest described as -allied unto Tobiah." -Son-in-law," or at any rate a relation by marriage.

Shechaniah the son of Arah R.V. Shecaniah, &c. The house of Arah is mentioned in Ezra 2:5. Shecaniah was clearly a man of eminence.

Johanan R.V. Jehohanan. The name of Tobiah's son is a compound of which the first two syllables are derived from the sacred Hebrew Name for God. Cf. note on Nehemiah 2:10.

had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah R.V. had taken … to wife. This Meshullam is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 3:30, from which passages we conclude that he was of priestly descent.