9. So we prayed to our God and set a guard as protection against them day and night.
10. But in Judah it was said,"The carrier’s strength is failing,for there is too much rubble.We are unable to rebuild the wall!"
11. Meanwhile, our enemies were saying: "Before they know or see anything, we can be in their midst and start to kill them. We’ll stop the work!"
12. Now the Jews who were living near them came and said to us again and again, "You must return to us!"
13. So I took up a position in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall in an open area. Then I stationed the people by families, and they had their swords, spears, and bows.
14. After reviewing this, I stood up and said to the officials, the officers, and the rest of the people, "Don’t be afraid of them! Remember that the Lord is great and awesome! Fight for your families, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses!"
15. Then our enemies heard that we had found out and that God had spoiled their plans. So we all returned to doing our own work on the wall.
16. But from that day on, only half of my workers continued in the construction, while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Meanwhile, the leaders positioned themselves behind the whole house of Judah,