Nehemiah 4:11

11 Then our enemies said, "They will not know nor see until we come upon them and will kill them and stop 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 set up a guard against them day and night.

10 But Judah said, "The strength of the carriers is failing, and there is too much dirt, and we are not able to build at the wall."

11 Then our enemies said, "They will not know nor see until we come upon them and will kill them and stop the work."

12 When the Jews who lived beside them came, they said to us ten times, "From all of the places where they live, [they will come up] against us."

13 I stationed the people behind the deepest part of the wall in the open places according to their families, with their swords, spears, and bows.