Nehemiah 4:1-7

1Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was proceeding and that the breaches had begun to be closed, they became extremely angry.

2They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to stir up trouble against it.

3But we prayed to our God and stationed a guard against them day and night.

4Meanwhile the people of Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing. There is so much rubble that we are unable to rebuild the wall.”

5Our adversaries also said, “They will not know or perceive anything, until we come among them and kill them, and put an end to the work!”

6So it happened that the Jews living near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us!”

7So I stationed people in the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places. I stationed the people by families with their swords, spears and bows.