Nehemiah 4

1 Now when Sanballat [a Persian satrap, the governor of Samaria] heard that we were rebuilding [restoring, repairing] the wall [a barrier, a means of protection], he was furious [enraged, very angry] and filled with indignation [great displeasure, strong opposition] [being deeply disturbed]. He ridiculed [mocked, scorned] the Jews [the people of Judah, God’s chosen nation] word study 2 before his associates [and the army of Samaria, his colleagues] and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble [weak] Jews doing? Can they restore [rebuild, fortify] the wall by themselves? Will they [offer sacrifices, make an end] offer sacrifices? Will they complete [finish, make an end] it in a day? Can they bring [revive, make whole again] these burnt stones [out of the heaps of rubbish, from piles of rubble and dirt] back to life from the mounds of rubble [which are burned, seeing they are burnt]?” word study 3 Then Tobiah [an enemy of Israel] the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox [a cunning and swift animal] were to climb up on what they are building [their stone wall], it would break down [destroy, demolish] their wall of stones [a structure of strength and security]!” word study 4 Hear us, O God [our loving Father], for we are despised [treated with contempt, ridiculed]. Turn their scorn [reproach, insults] back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder [a spoil, prey] to a land of captivity [exile, bondage]. word study 5 Do not [omit or conceal] cover up their iniquity [guilt, sinful nature] or let their sin [rebellion, transgression] be blotted out [erased, forgotten] from Your sight [presence, awareness], for they have provoked [angered, offended] the builders [laborers, constructors]. word study 6 So we rebuilt [restored, repaired] the wall until all of it was joined together [connected, united] up to half its height [midpoint, middle section], for the people had a mind [heart, willingness] to work [labor, serve]. word study 7 When Sanballat and Tobiah, together [in alliance] with the Arabs, Ammonites [a people group], and Ashdodites [inhabitants of Ashdod], heard that the repair [restoration, rebuilding] to the walls [barriers, fortifications] of Jerusalem was progressing [going forward, advancing] and that the gaps [breaches, broken places] were being closed [filled in, stopped], they were furious [very angry, exceedingly displeased], word study 8 and all of them conspired [plotted together, made designs] to come and fight [to wage war, to cause confusion] against Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital of Judah] and create [to prepare, to bring about] a hindrance [an obstacle, a trouble]. word study 9 So we prayed [made our petition, cried out] to our God [Elohim, the supreme Protector] and posted [set, appointed] a guard [watch, protection] against them [our enemies, adversaries] day and night [continually, without ceasing]. word study 10 Meanwhile, the people of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, a son of Jacob] said: “The strength [power, ability] of the laborer [bearer of burdens, worker] fails [is decayed, weakened], and there is so much rubble [rubbish, waste material] that we will never be able to rebuild [build, construct] the wall [barrier, fortification].” word study 11 And our enemies [adversaries, those opposed to us] said, “Before they know [are aware, have knowledge] or see [perceive, understand] a thing, we will come [appear, arrive] into their midst [among them, in their presence], kill [slay, destroy] them, and put an end [cause to cease, stop] to the work [labor, task, occupation, the building of the wall].” word study 12 At that time [when we were most vulnerable] the Jews [Israelites, God’s chosen people] who lived [dwelt, resided] nearby [beside, in close proximity] came and told us ten times over [repeatedly, from all directions], “Wherever you turn [go, return], they will attack [be upon, oppose] us [with swords, in hostile intent].” word study 13 So I stationed men [as guards, defenders] behind the lowest sections [most vulnerable areas, open places] of the wall [a barrier for protection], at the [exposed, weak] vulnerable areas [where the wall was not very high yet, with gaps]. I stationed them by families [in family groups, according to their households] with their swords [daggers, for close combat], spears [for throwing, long-range attack], and bows [for shooting arrows, with precision]. word study 14 After I had made an inspection [and looked carefully], I stood up and said to the nobles [and rulers], the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid [or terrified] of them. Remember the Lord [Elohim, the great and awesome God], who is great [powerful and mighty] and awesome [terrible and fearsome], and fight [struggle and contend] for your brothers [fellow Israelites], your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes [houses and families].” word study 15 When our enemies [those who opposed us, adversaries] heard that we were aware of their scheme [evil plan, plot] and that God [the Almighty, Creator] had frustrated [brought to nothing, foiled] it, each of us returned to his own work [employment, task] on the wall [barrier, fortification]. word study 16 And from that day on [from then forward], half of my servants [young men, workers] did the work [labor, task] while the other half held [kept, gripped] spears [weapons, arms], shields [protective gear, defense], bows [archery equipment], and armor [coats of mail, protective clothing]. The officers [rulers, leaders] stationed themselves behind [in support of, guarding] all the people of Judah [the house of Judah, the nation] word study 17 who were rebuilding [restoring, repairing] the wall [barrier, partition]. The laborers [workers, burden bearers] who carried materials [loads, burdens] worked with one hand and held a [missile, spear] weapon [instrument of war, defense] with the other. word study 18 And each of the builders [workers, laborers] worked [was building, constructed] with his sword [weapon, blade] strapped [girded, fastened] at his side. But the trumpeter [one who sounded the trumpet, the man blowing the trumpet] stayed [stood, remained] beside me. word study 20 Wherever you hear [listen for, catch] the sound of the horn [trumpet, trumpet blast], rally [gather, come together] to us there. Our God [the Lord, our Creator] will fight [contend, battle] for us!” word study 21 So we continued [persevered, carried on] the work, while half of the men held [gripped, bore] spears from the break [rising, dawn] of dawn until the stars [heavenly bodies, celestial lights] came out [appeared, shone]. word study 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man [everyone, each] and his servant [with his servant, including servants] spend the night [lodge, come inside] inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard [keep watch, be a guard] by night and work [labor, go on working] by day.” word study 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards [men of the guard, watchmen] with me changed out of our clothes [garments]; each carried his weapon [sword, arms], even to go for water [to the water]. word study