Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Letter. Hebrew, Septuagint, and Arabic add, "open: "but this word is not in Syriac. The letter might be an order to appear, or might be left open to signify that the bearer was a man of confidence, from whom Nehemias might receive any farther information; unless it was sent in this manner out of contempt.
Gossem, the Arabian governor, chap. ii. 19. (Calmet)