The journey to Jerusalem was, as far as we are told, uneventful. Letters from the king were given to the governors on the west side of the river and the travelers appeared to have encountered no outward opposition. This does not mean to say that others were happy about the arrival of Nehemiah and his company. Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the Ammonite, are specifically mentioned; they were exceedingly grieved that anyone should think to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
While it is possible that Sanballat was a Moabite, it is far more probable that he was a Samaritan governor. As such, he was a pretender to Judaism. Claiming to be a part of the family of Israel — “Art thou greater than our father Jacob” (John 4:12) — the Samaritans were as alien to the blessings of that nation as any Gentile (Eph. 2:12). Sadly, Christendom has many who claim to be a part of the family of God, and yet they are mere imitators. Like those encountered by Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, they outwardly identify with Christianity, but they have never come to the cross; they do not know the cleansing power of the blood of Christ, neither do they possess a new nature, nor are they indwelt by the Spirit of God. With nothing but an outward show, they are very protective of their place and position and are naturally grieved when true-hearted servants of God show care for the spiritual welfare of the people of God.