The workmen who lived outside the walls were requested by Nehemiah to stay in the city all night, in order to increase the strength of their force.

As for the governor himself and the little body of faithful servants, they gave themselves hardly any rest, either by night or by day.

They were almost always on duty, not one of them even undressed all that long time of watching; if they laid down to sleep, they laid in their clothes, ready at any moment for the attack of the enemy (chap.iv.

28).
Thus, day by day, the work grew and the walls rose higher, strong lines of defence once more encircled the city, and the prayer of the captives in Babylon, offered so earnestly and amongst many tears, was already receiving an abundant answer.
'Do good in Thy good pleasure to Zion, build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.' The scene changes.

Nehemiah and his workmen fade away; the walls of Jerusalem become dim and obscure, and, in their place, we see coming out, as in a dissolving view, other figures and another landscape.