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JULY 26
as the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
merchants made repairs. 16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my
But it so happened, when Sanballat heard servants worked at construction, while the
4 that we were rebuilding the wall, that he other half held the spears, the shields, the
was furious and very indignant, and mocked bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were
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the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren behind all the house of Judah. Those who
and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are built on the wall, and those who carried bur-
these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify dens, loaded themselves so that with one hand
themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they worked at construction, and with the
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they complete it in a day? Will they revive the other held a weapon. Every one of the
stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that builders had his sword girded at his side as he
are burned?” built. And the one who sounded the trumpet
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, was beside me.
and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a 19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and
fox goes up on it, he will break down their the rest of the people, “The work is great and
stone wall.” extensive, and we are separated far from one
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn another on the wall. Wherever you hear the
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their reproach on their own heads, and give sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our
them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not God will fight for us.”
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cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be 21 So we labored in the work, and half of the
blotted out from before You; for they have pro- men held the spears from daybreak until the
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voked You to anger before the builders. stars appeared. At the same time I also said
6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was to the people, “Let each man and his servant
joined together up to half its height, for the stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be
people had a mind to work. our guard by night and a working party by
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7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, day.” So neither I, my brethren, my servants,
the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites nor the men of the guard who followed me
heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being took off our clothes, except that everyone took
restored and the gaps were beginning to be them off for washing.
closed, that they became very angry, and all And there was a great outcry of the people
8
of them conspired together to come and 5 and their wives against their Jewish
attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Never- brethren. For there were those who said,
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theless we made our prayer to our God, and “We, our sons, and our daughters are many;
because of them we set a watch against them therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and
day and night. live.”
10 Then Judah said, “The strength of the 3 There were also some who said, “We have
laborers is failing, and there is so much rub- mortgaged our lands and vineyards and
bish that we are not able to build the wall.” houses, that we might buy grain because of
11 And our adversaries said, “They will nei- the famine.”
ther know nor see anything, till we come into 4 There were also those who said, “We have
their midst and kill them and cause the work borrowed money for the king’s tax on our
5
to cease.” lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as
12 So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near the flesh of our brethren, our children as their
them came, that they told us ten times, “From children; and indeed we are forcing our sons
whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.” and our daughters to be slaves, and some of
13 Therefore I positioned men behind the our daughters have been brought into slavery.
lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I It is not in our power to redeem them, for other
set the people according to their families, with men have our lands and vineyards.”
their swords, their spears, and their bows. 6 And I became very angry when I heard
14 And I looked, and arose and said to the their outcry and these words. After serious
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nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and
people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury
the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for from his brother.” So I called a great assembly
your brethren, your sons, your daughters, against them. And I said to them, “According
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your wives, and your houses.” to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish
15 And it happened, when our enemies heard brethren who were sold to the nations. Now
that it was known to us, and that God had indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or
brought their plot to nothing, that all of us should they be sold to us?”

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