CHAPTER 4
Now
when
Sanballat
heard
that
we
were rebuilding
the wall,
he became furious
and was filled with indignation.
He ridiculed
the Jews
before
his associates
and the army
of Samaria,
saying,
“What
are these feeble
Jews
doing?
Can they restore the wall by themselve
Will they offer sacrifices?
Will they complete it
in a day?
Can they bring these
burnt
stones
back to life
from the mounds
of rubble?”
Then Tobiah
the Ammonite,
who was beside him,
said,
“If
even
a fox
were to climb up on
what
they
are building,
it would break down
their wall
of stones!”
Hear us,
O God,
for
we are
despised.
Turn
their scorn
back upon
their own heads,
and let them be taken
as plunder
to a land
of captivity.
Do not
cover up
their iniquity
or let their sin
be blotted out
from Your sight,
for
they have provoked
the builders.
So we rebuilt
the wall
until all
of it
was joined together
up to
half its height,
for the people
had
a mind
to work.
When
Sanballat
and Tobiah,
together with the Arabs,
Ammonites,
and Ashdodites,
heard
that
the repair
to the walls
of Jerusalem
was progressing
and that
the gaps
were being closed,
they were furious,
Meanwhile, the people of Judah
said:
“The strength
of the laborer
fails,
and there is so much
rubble
that we
will never
be able
to rebuild
the wall.”
And our enemies
said,
“Before
they know
or
see
a thing,
we will come
into
their midst,
kill them,
and put an end
to the work.”
At that time
the Jews
who lived
nearby
came
and told
us
ten
times over,
“Wherever
you turn,
they will attack us.”
So I stationed men
behind
the lowest
sections
of the wall,
at the vulnerable areas.
I stationed
them
by families
with
their swords,
spears,
and bows.
After I had made an inspection,
I stood up
and said
to
the nobles,
the officials,
and the rest
of the people,
“Do not
be afraid
of them.
Remember
the Lord,
who is great
and awesome,
and fight
for
your brothers,
your sons
and your daughters,
your wives
and your homes."
When
our enemies
heard
that
we were aware
of their scheme
and that God
had frustrated it,
each
of us returned
to
his own work
on
the wall.
And
from
that
day on,
half
of my men
did
the work
while the other half
held
spears,
shields,
bows,
and armor.
The officers
stationed themselves behind
all
the people
of Judah
who were rebuilding
the wall.
The laborers who carried
materials
worked
with one
hand
and held
a weapon
with the other.
And each
of the builders
worked
with his sword
strapped
at
his side.
But the trumpeter
stayed beside me.
Then I said
to
the nobles,
the officials,
and the rest
of the people:
“The work is
great
and extensive,
and we
are spread out
far
from one
another
along
the wall.
So we
continued
the work,
while half of the men
held
spears
from the break
of dawn
until
the stars
came out.
At that
time
I also
said
to the people,
“Let every man
and his servant
spend the night
inside
Jerusalem,
so that they can stand
guard
by night
and work
by day.”
So neither I
nor brothers
nor my men
nor the guards
with me
changed out of
our clothes;
each carried his weapon,
even to go for water.