17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand. They carried a weapon in the other hand.
18 Each builder wore his sword at his side as he worked. The man who blew the trumpet to warn the people stayed next to me.
19 Then I spoke to the important men, the leaders and the rest of the people. I said, “This is a very big job. We are spreading out along the wall. We are far apart.
20 So wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, assemble there. Our God will fight for us.”
21 So we continued to work. Half the men held spears. We worked from sunrise till the stars came out.
22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night. They can be our guards at night. And they can be workmen during the day.”
23 Neither I, my brothers, my men nor the guards with me ever took off our clothes. Each person carried his weapon even when he went for water.