And it came to pass, as Sanaballat and Tobias and the Arabs and the Ammanites heard that a growth had gone up to the walls of Jerusalem, that the breaches had begun to be closed up, it appeared very evil to them.
And I stationed in the lowest parts of the place behind the wall, in the sheltered places, and I stationed the people by companies, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
And I saw, and I rose up, and I said to the honored men and to the leaders and to the rest of the people: Do not fear before their face; remember our God, the great and fearful one, and draw up yourselves for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses.
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it had become known to us, that God had scattered their counsel, and we all returned to the wall, each man to his work.
And it came to pass from that day, half of the men who were shaken out were doing the work, and half of them were holding on; and spears and shields and the bows and the breastplates and the rulers behind every house of Judah.
And I said to the honored men and to the rulers and to the rest of the people: the work is broad and great, and we are scattered upon the wall, far each man from his brother.