“When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. The leaders posted themselves behind the whole house of Judah, those building the wall. The burden bearers carried their loads in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and with the other held a weapon. Each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people. ‘The work is great and widely spread out. We are separated far from one another on the wall. Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet! Our God will fight for us.’”

Once their enemies found out that they knew about the plot everything settled down. They started back to work on the wall because God had frustrated their enemies. The leaders backed this new plan. Each one would have a weapon as they worked. They had spears, shields, bows, and body armor. All the builders had a sword strapped to their side. Nehemiah also had a trumpet man with him as he walked around. If the trumpet sounded, they would all rally around the place where there was a problem. They now had become worker soldiers. Their God was going to fight for them.