7
But it came to pass, when Sanaballat and Tobia, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing, that the breaches began to be stopped, that it appeared very grievous to them.
8
And all of them assembled together, to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to destroy it utterly.
9
So we prayed to our God and set watchmen against them day and night, because of them.
10
And Juda said, The strength of the enemies is broken, yet much rubbish, and we shall not be able to build the wall.
11
And they that afflicted us said, They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12
And it came to pass, when the Jews who lived near them came, that they said to us, They are coming up against us from every quarter.
13
So I set in the lowest part of the place behind the wall in the lurking-places, I even set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14
And I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles, and to the captains, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember our great and terrible God, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was made known to us, and God had frustrated their counsel, that we all returned to the wall, man to his work.
16
And it came to pass from that day half of them that had been driven forth, wrought the work, and half of them kept guard; and spears, and shields, and bows, and breast-plates, and rulers behind the whole house of Juda,
17
even of them that were building the wall:—and those who carried the burdens under arms: with one hand wrought his work, and with the other held his dart.