Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding - the wall , he was furious and 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) 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 - ,
and all of them conspired ... to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.
So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them ... day and night.
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 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 servants 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.
Wherever - you hear - the sound of the horn , rally to us there. Our God will fight
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 my brothers nor my servants ... nor the guards - with me ... ... changed out of our clothes ; each carried his weapon , (even to go) for water.