This speaks of people being loyal to Tobiah because they had pledged an oath to him as if their oath were a rope that bound their bodies. Alternate translation: "who had sworn an oath to him" or "who had made an oath and were loyal to him" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
This means that Tobiah was married to the daughter of Shekaniah. See how you translated "Shekaniah" in [Nehemiah 3:29](../03/29.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]])