Reference: Sanballat
Hastings
The most inveterate of the opponents of Nehemiah. He was a native of Beth-horon, and apparently belonged to an old Babylonian family holding office under the Persian government. When Nehemiah came to Jerusalem to repair the walls, he, with his allies (Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian), met him with derision; and after the work was well under way he stirred up the garrison of Samaria and planned an attack against the builders. This was prevented by the watchfulness of Nehemiah and the workmen. Several devices aimed against the life of Nehemiah were also thwarted by the sagacity of the latter. On Nehemiah's second visit he banished from Jerusalem Manasseh (a son-in-law of Sanballat, and grandson of Eliashib), who founded the Samaritan sect. See Ne 2:10,19; 4:1 ff.; Ne 4:6; 13:28.
J. F. McCurdy.