TOBIAH, a base Samaritan, whO, having raised himself from a state of slavery to be a trusted favourite of Sanballat, did his utmost to gratify his master by resisting the proceedings of Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. With an affectation of scorn, he, after the manner of Remus in the Roman legend, looked on the constructions of the now hopeful and thriving Jews, and con temptuously said : 'Even if a fox go up be will break down their stone wall' (Neh. iv. 3). This insult was tbe more disgraceful to Tobiah, because his own conduct q,uickly exposed tbe insincerity which lay at the bottom of it, for he took a pro minent and active part with Sanballat in his un worthy courses against Nehemiah. In these treach ery had its share ; which Tobiah was enabled to carry on tbe more easily because he had allied himself with the chief men of Judah, having mar ried tbe daughter of Shechaniah, the son of Arah, while his son Johanan had taken to wife the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah (Neh.
vi. 17, seq. ; comp. xiii. 4). These dishonest practices and the use of threats alike proved nuga tory. Nehemiah, however, was obliged to leave Jerusalem. By this absence Tobiah profited, in order, with the aid of his relative Eliashib the priest, to get himself comfortably and splendidly established in 'a great chamber in the house of God' (ch. xiii. 4). But his glory was short-lived. Nehemiah returned and caused him and his house hold-stuff tobe ignominiously cast out of the temple. This is the last that we know of this member of that vile class who are ready and unscrupulous tools in th:1,ands of their superiors for any dishonourable undertaking.—J. R. B.