Nehemiah 4:11

11 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.”

Nehemiah 4:11 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 4:11

And our adversaries said, they shall not know
Our designs upon them:

neither see;
or perceive what we are about to do:

till we come in the midst of them;
with an army suddenly, at an unawares, and unexpected:

and slay them;
they being unarmed, and not prepared to defend themselves:

and cause the work to cease;
as it must in course, the builders being slain.

Nehemiah 4:11 In-Context

9 So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

10 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.”

11 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.”

12 At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

13 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.