Nehemiah 4:22

22 And in that time I said to the people, Each man with his servant dwell he in the midst of Jerusalem, and whiles be to us by night, and (the) day to work. (And at that time I said to the people, Each man stay he with his servant in the middle of Jerusalem, and be on guard for us by night, and do the work by 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 therefore in whatever place that ye hear [the] sound of the trump (and so whenever ye hear the sound of the trumpet), run ye together thither to us; for our God shall fight for us.

21 And we ourselves shall make the work, and the half of us hold we spears, from the going up of the morrowtide till that [the] stars go out. (And so we did the work, and half of us held spears, from the rising of the morning sun until the stars came out.)

22 And in that time I said to the people, Each man with his servant dwell he in the midst of Jerusalem, and whiles be to us by night, and (the) day to work. (And at that time I said to the people, Each man stay he with his servant in the middle of Jerusalem, and be on guard for us by night, and do the work by day.)

23 But I, and my brethren, and my keepers, and [my] servants, that were (going) after me, did not (put) off our clothes; each man was made naked only to washing. (And I, and my kinsmen, and my servants, and the men who were protecting me, never took off our clothes; each man was made naked only for washing/each of us kept our right hand on our sword at all times.)