How did the builders continue while facing threats and fatigue?

When Sanaballat learned that the Jews were rebuilding the wall, he was moved with great anger and ridiculed their efforts before his associates and the multitude of the Samaritans. He questioned what the feeble Jews were doing, asking mockingly whether the surrounding nations would permit them, whether they would finish through sacrifice in a single day, and whether they could revive charred stones from heaps of rubbish. Standing beside him, Tobias the Ammonite derided the construction, remarking that if a fox went up, it would leap over their stone wall. Hearing their insults, Nehemias prayed to God, asking that the enemies' reproach fall upon their own heads, that they experience captivity, and that their sin not be covered, because they had mocked the builders.

Despite this contempt, the builders continued their labor until the entire wall was joined together to half its extent, driven by the people's eager desire to work. However, when Sanaballat, Tobias, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Azotians heard that the breaches were closing and the walls being restored, their anger increased greatly. The allied adversaries conspired to march together against Jerusalem, launch an armed assault, and prepare ambushes. In response to this threat, the Jewish community prayed to God and established a continuous guard upon the wall, posting sentries both day and night.

At this juncture, internal discouragement arose within Judah. The people lamented that the burden-bearers were exhausted, the piles of rubble remained immense, and they could no longer sustain the wall building. Meanwhile, the adversaries plotted a surprise attack, planning to infiltrate their midst unnoticed, slaughter the workers, and halt the construction. Jews who lived near the enemies came and told the builders ten times, from all the places they came from.

To counter the impending assault, Nehemias arrayed the people in order behind the wall around the city, arming them with swords, spears, and bows. He addressed the nobles, magistrates, and the rest of the people, urging them not to be afraid, to remember the great and terrible Lord, and to fight courageously for their brethren, their sons, their daughters, their wives, and their homes. When the enemies learned that their plan had been disclosed, the account says God defeated their counsel. Then the builders returned to their stations, each resuming his assigned task on the wall.

From that day onward, Nehemias divided the work and defensive duties. Half of the young men performed construction work while the other half stood ready for combat, equipped with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail, with community leaders positioned behind the entire house of Judah. Those who carried building materials worked with one hand while holding a weapon with the other, and every builder kept his sword girded at his side as he labored. A trumpeter stood beside Nehemias, who instructed the nobles and people that because the work was wide and the builders scattered along the wall, everyone should rush to the sound of the trumpet whenever it blew, trusting that God would fight for them. Half the force held spears from daybreak until the stars appeared, workers lodged within Jerusalem to provide night watches, and Nehemias, his kin, his servants, and the sentries remained fully clothed, stripping only when washing.