Nehemiah, Chapter 4:
advertising
Verses from Nehemiah, Chapter 4 of the book of Nehemiah in the Bible.
Opposition to Reconstruction
- 1. When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious. He mocked the Jews
- 2. and, in the presence of his countrymen and the powerful of Samaria, he said: “What are these weak Jews doing? Will they restore the wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish the work in just one day? Will they be able to bring back the stones from the ruins and the burned pieces?”
- 3. Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing next to Sanballat, said, “Yes, let them build! Even a fox would climb up and tear down the stone wall they are building!”
- 4. O God, hear our prayer, for we are despised. Let their mockery fall on their own heads. Cause them to be taken captive to a foreign land.
- 5. Do not forgive their sins and do not blot out their iniquities, for they provoked you to anger before the builders.
- 6. We continued to rebuild the wall until it was half its height, as the people were determined to work.
- 7. When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the men of Ashdod heard that repairs to the walls of Jerusalem were progressing and that the breaches were being closed, they were furious.
- 8. Everyone came together and planned to attack Jerusalem and cause confusion.
- 9. Yet we pray to our God and set guards day and night to protect us from them.
- 10. Meanwhile, the people of Judah began to say, “The workers are getting tired, and there is still a lot of rubble to clear. We cannot rebuild the wall by ourselves.”
- 11. Our enemies said, “Before they know what is happening, we will be among them and kill them, putting an end to their work.”
- 12. Ten times the Jews who lived near our enemies warned us: “They will attack us from all sides, wherever you are.”
- 13. Therefore, I positioned the people at the lowest points of the wall, in the open places, and organized them into families, each of them armed with swords, spears and bows.
- 14. After making a quick inspection, I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
- 15. When our enemies learned that we were aware of their plans and that God had thwarted their intentions, we all returned to the wall, each one to his work.
- 16. From that day on, half of my men worked on the site, while the other half remained armed with spears, shields, bows and breastplates. The officers supported all the people of Judah
- 17. who was involved in building the wall. Those carrying construction materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
- 18. Each of the builders wore a sword strapped to his waist as he worked, and at my side was a man ready to blow the trumpet.
- 19. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated from each other along the wall.
- 20. When you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather around us. Our God will fight for us!”
- 21. We continued the work, with half the men wielding swords from daybreak until nightfall.
- 22. At that time I also said to the people, “Each of you and your helper must stay in Jerusalem overnight, so that you can serve as sentries at night and work during the day.”
- 23. I, my brothers, my trusted men and the guards who were with me did not take off our clothes, and each one remained armed.
