Dual Panel1Now when <01961> Sanballat <05571> heard <08085> that <03588> we <0587> were rebuilding <01129> the wall <02346> he became angry <02734> and was quite <07235> upset <03707>. He derided <03932> the Jews <03064>,
2and in the presence <06440> of his colleagues <0251> and the army <02426> of Samaria <08111> he said <0559>, “What <04100> are these feeble <0537> Jews <03064> doing <06213>? Will they be left <05800> to themselves <01992>? Will they again offer sacrifice <02076>? Will they finish <03615> this in a day <03117>? Can they bring these <01992> burnt <08313> stones <068> to life <02421> again from piles <06194> of dust <06083>?”
3Then Tobiah <02900> the Ammonite <05984>, who was close by <0681>, said <0559>, “If <0518> even <01571> a fox <07776> were to climb up <05927> on what <0834> they <01992> are building <01129>, it would break down <06555> their wall <02346> of stones <068>!”
4Hear <08085>, O our God <0430>, for <03588> we are despised <0939>! Return <07725> their reproach <02781> on their own head <07218>! Reduce <05414> them to plunder <0961> in a land <0776> of exile <07633>!
5Do not <0408> cover <03680> their iniquity <05771>, and do not <0408> wipe out <04229> their sin <02403> from before <06440> them. For <03588> they have bitterly offended <03707> the builders <01129>!
6So we rebuilt <01129> the wall <02346>, and the entire <03605> wall <02346> was joined together <07194> up to <05704> half <02677> its height. The people <05971> were <01961> enthusiastic <03820> in their work <06213>.
7When <01961> Sanballat <05571>, Tobiah <02900>, the Arabs <06163>, the Ammonites <05984>, and the people of Ashdod <0796> heard <08085> that <03588> the restoration <0724> of the walls <02346> of Jerusalem <03389> had moved ahead <05927> and that <03588> the breaches <06555> had begun <02490> to be closed <05640>, they were very <03966> angry <02734>.
8All <03605> of them conspired <07194> together <03162> to move <0935> with armed forces against <03898> Jerusalem <03389> and to create <06213> a disturbance <08442> in it.
9So we prayed <06419> to <0413> our God <0430> and stationed <05975> a guard <04929> to protect against <05921> them both day <03119> and night <03915>.
10Then those in Judah <03063> said <0559>, “The strength <03581> of the laborers <05449> has failed <03782>! The debris <06083> is so great <07235> that we <0587> are unable <03201> <03808> to rebuild <01129> the wall <02346>.”
11Our adversaries <06862> also boasted <0559>, “Before they are aware <03045> or <03808> anticipate <07200> anything, we will come <0935> in among <08432> <0413> them and kill <02026> them, and we will bring <07673> this work <04399> to a halt <07673>!”
12So it happened <01961> that <0834> the Jews <03064> who were living <03427> near <0681> them came <0935> and warned <0559> us repeatedly <06471> <06235> about all <03605> the schemes <04725> they were plotting <07725> against <05921> us.
13So I stationed <05975> people at the lower <08482> places <04725> behind <0310> the wall <02346> in the exposed <06708> places. I stationed <05975> the people <05971> by families <04940>, with <05973> their swords <02719>, spears <07420>, and bows <07198>.
14When I had made <07200> an inspection <07200>, I stood up <06965> and said <0559> to <0413> the nobles <02715>, the officials <05461>, and the rest <03499> of the people <05971>, “Don’t <0408> be afraid <03372> of <06440> them. Remember <02142> the great <01419> and awesome <03372> Lord <0136>, and fight <03898> on behalf <05921> of your brothers <0251>, your sons <01121>, your daughters <01323>, your wives <0802>, and your families <01004>!”
15It so happened <01961> that <0834> when our adversaries <0341> heard <08085> that <03588> we were aware <03045> of these matters, God <0430> frustrated <06565> their intentions <06098>. Then all <03605> of us returned <07725> to <0413> the wall <02346>, each <0376> to <0413> his own work <04399>.
16From <04480> that day <03117> forward, half <02677> of my men <05288> were doing <06213> the work <04399> and half <02677> of them were taking up <02388> spears <07420>, shields <04043>, bows <07198>, and body armor <08302>. Now the officers <08269> were behind <0310> all <03605> the people <01004> of Judah <03063>
17who were rebuilding <01129> the wall <02346>. Those who were carrying <05375> loads <05447> did <06213> so by keeping one <0259> hand <03027> on the work <04399> and the other <0259> on their weapon <07973>.
18The builders <01129> to a man <0376> had their swords <02719> strapped <0631> to <05921> their sides <04975> while they were building <01129>. But the trumpeter <07782> <08628> remained with <0681> me.
19I said <0559> to <0413> the nobles <02715>, the officials <05461>, and the rest <03499> of the people <05971>, “The work <04399> is demanding <07235> and extensive <07342>, and we <0587> are spread out <06504> on <05921> the wall <02346>, far <07350> removed from one <0376> another <0251>.
20Wherever <0834> <04725> you hear <08085> the sound <06963> of the trumpet <07782>, gather <06908> there <08033> with <0413> us. Our God <0430> will fight <03898> for us!”
21So we <0587> worked <04399> <06213> on, with half <02677> holding <02388> spears <07420>, from dawn <07837> <05927> till <05704> dusk <03556> <03318>.
22At that time <06256> I instructed <0559> the people <05971>, “Let every man <0376> and his coworker <05288> spend <03885> the night in <08432> Jerusalem <03389> and let them be <01961> guards <04929> for us by night <03915> and workers <04399> by day <03117>.
23We <0587> did not change <06584> clothes <0899>– not <0369> I <0589>, nor my relatives <0251>, nor my workers <05288>, nor <0369> the watchmen <04929> <0582> who <0834> were with <0310> me. Each <0376> had his weapon <07973>, even when getting a drink of water <04325>.