Nehemiah 4

Mocking from the Enemies

1 When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he got hot, angry and straight mocking the Jews.

2 He said in front of his crew and the army of Samaria, “What these weak Jews think they doing, They are going to rebuild this, They think they can worship and finish in one day, They think burnt stones from piles of rubble can hold anything?”

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, standing next to him, said, “Man, even a fox climbing that wall would break it down!”

Praying and Building Through the Hate

4 So I prayed: “Hear us, our God, because we getting’ clowned. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Let them get carried away as captives like we were.”

5 “Do not let their sin be wiped out. Do not forget how they disrespected the builders right in front of You.”

6 But we kept grinding, we rebuilt the wall until it was halfway up. The people had heart and stayed locked in on the work.

Threats and Plots to Stop the Work

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod heard that we were making real progress on the wall and the gaps were getting closed, they were heated.

8 They all teamed up, plotting to come fight against Jerusalem and throw confusion in the camp.

9 But we prayed to our God and posted guards day and night to keep watch.

10 Meanwhile, the people of Judah were saying, “We are tired out. There is too much rubble. We cannot keep this up.”

11 Our enemies were saying, “They will not even see us coming. We will sneak in, kill them, and shut the work down.”

12 Even the Jews living near them kept warning us, “They are going to attack you from every side!”

Nehemiah’s Defense Strategy

13 So I stationed folks behind the wall at the lowest spots, in open places, posting them by families with swords, spears, and bows.

14 Then I looked things over and stood up and said to the nobles, officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be scared of them. Remember the LORD, great and awesome. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

15 When our enemies found out we knew their plan and that God had messed it up, we all went back to the wall, each one to his work.

Work with One Hand, Weapon in the Other

16 From that day on, half my guys worked while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders backed up all the workers.

17 The ones building the wall and the ones hauling stuff did their work with one hand while holding a weapon in the other.

18 Each builder had his sword strapped to his side while he worked. And the guy with the trumpet stood next to me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is huge, and we are spread out along the wall, far apart from each other.”

20 “If you hear the trumpet blast, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

Staying Ready Around the Clock

21 So we kept working, with half the men holding spears, from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

22 At that time, I also told the people, “Everybody and your workers, stay inside Jerusalem at night. Keep watch for us at night and work during the day.”

23 Neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the guards with me ever took off our clothes. Everyone kept a weapon, even when going to get water.