No sooner is the alarm given than the work ceases, and the whole company of builders is changed into an army of soldiers, and swords, and spears, and bows are to be seen on the walls instead of trowels and hammers.

Nehemiah had carefully arranged the position which each man was to occupy; he drew up his soldiers after their families, probably giving to each family the part of the wall nearest to their own house, that they might feel that they were fighting for their homes, their wives, and their children.

Then when all were put in readiness Nehemiah called upon them to be brave in the defence of their city, and not to fear the foe.
'Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.' The enemy approaches; but instead of taking Jerusalem by surprise, as they had boasted they would, they find they are expected, and will meet with a warm reception if they advance farther.

They are afraid to make the attempt; God guards the faithful city, and Sanballat and his allied forces withdraw discomfited.

No sooner has the enemy beaten a retreat than the work begins again.
'We returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.' But, from that time, the sword and the trowel must never be parted.