Nehemiah 4:11 — Meaning and Application

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and {there is} much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us {they will be upon you}. {From all...: or, That from all places ye must return to us}

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, {and} on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. {in the...: Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc}