Nehemia 4:13-18

4:13 So I stationed people at the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places. ¹  I stationed the people by families, with their swords, spears, and bows. 4:14 When I had made an inspection, ²  I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, ³  and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your families!” ⁴ 

4:15 It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, ⁵  God frustrated their intentions. Then all of us returned to the wall, each to his own work. 4:16 From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, ⁶  shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people ⁷  of Judah 4:17 who were rebuilding the wall. ⁸  Those who were carrying loads did so ⁹  by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon. 4:18 The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter ¹⁰  remained with me.

[4:13]  ¹ tc The MT preserves the anomalous Kethib form צְחִחִיִּים (tsÿkhikhiyyim); the Qere reads צְחִיחִים (tsÿkhikhim) which is preferred (BDB 850 s.v. צָהִיחַ; HALOT 1018 s.v. *צָהִיחַ).

[4:13]  tn The meaning of the Hebrew term צְחִיחִים (tsÿkhikhim) here is uncertain. Elsewhere (Ezek 24:7, 8; 26:4, 14) it refers to a shining or glaring surface of a rock (BDB 850 s.v. צָהִיחַ; HALOT 1018 s.v. *צָהִיחַ), but here it refers to an exposed or vulnerable portion of the wall: “open positions of the wall” (HALOT 1018 s.v. 2).

[4:14]  ² tn Heb “And I saw.”

[4:14]  ³ tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

[4:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “houses.”

[4:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “it was known to us.”

[4:16]  ⁶ tc The MT reads “and spears.” The conjunction should be deleted.

[4:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “all the house.”

[4:17]  ⁸ tn The first words of v. 17, “who were rebuilding the wall,” should be taken with the latter part of v. 16.

[4:17]  ⁹ tn Heb “were carrying loads.” The LXX reads ἐν ὅπλοις (en hoplois, “with weapons”).

[4:18]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the one blowing the shophar.”