In Context

17 They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon;

18 and the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me.

19 I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, |The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another.

20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us.|

21 So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.

22 Likewise at the same time said I to the people, |Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.|

Nehemiah 4:20 in Other Translations