Nehemiah 4 - Summary

When Sanballat heard that the Jews were rebuilding, he became furious and mocked them before his army and the Samaritans, questioning whether they could complete the work, and Tobiah scoffed that even a fox climbing on their stone wall would break it down. Nehemiah prayed for God to turn their reproach on their own heads, and the wall was joined to half its height because the people had a mind to work; but when the enemies plotted to attack and cause confusion, the Jews stationed armed guards and divided the workers so that half held weapons while the other half built, with everyone keeping a sword at their side. Nehemiah encouraged them not to fear but to remember the Lord who is great and awesome and to fight for their families and homes; the enemies' plot was frustrated when God exposed it, and the work continued with builders carrying loads with one hand while holding a weapon in the other, with trumpeters stationed to sound the alarm for rapid assembly if attacked.