16. From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah
17. who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon.
18. The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter remained with me.
19. I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is demanding and extensive, and we are spread out on the wall, far removed from one another.
20. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there with us. Our God will fight for us!”
21. So we worked on, with half holding spears, from dawn till dusk.
22. At that time I instructed the people, “Let every man and his coworker spend the night in Jerusalem and let them be guards for us by night and workers by day.
23. We did not change clothes – not I, nor my relatives, nor my workers, nor the watchmen who were with me. Each had his weapon, even when getting a drink of water.