Nehemiah 4:22

22 At that time I told the people, "Every man and his servant should stay overnight in Jerusalem so that we can set a guard at night and work during the day."

Nehemiah 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 4:22

Likewise at the same time said I unto the people
That were at work upon the wall:

let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem;
every builder had a servant, or a lad, as the word signifies, to wait upon him, to bring mortar or stone, or what he wanted; and some of these builders, with their lads, came out of the country towns and villages in the morning, and returned at night; now Nehemiah proposed, for the safety of the city and its walls, that for the present they would lodge in Jerusalem:

that in the night they may be a guard unto us, and labour on the day;
might help to protect them in the night, should they be surprised with the enemy, and be ready for their work in the daytime.

Nehemiah 4:22 In-Context

20 When you hear the trumpet, assemble around me. Our God will fight for us!"

21 So we continued to work. Half of us held spears from early dawn until the stars came out.

22 At that time I told the people, "Every man and his servant should stay overnight in Jerusalem so that we can set a guard at night and work during the day."

23 My brothers, my servants, and the guards assigned to me never changed their clothes. Neither did I. We each kept our weapons at hand.