How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. Then I got up during the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the animal I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate past the Dragon's Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool; but there was no place for the animal I was riding to continue. So I went up by way of the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. (NRSV Nehemiah 2:11-15)
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. (KJV Nehemiah 2:11-15)
Nehemiah's secret surveillance of the ruined walls is part of his greater mission. He's here to help the rebuilding proceed, but he can't let the people's enemies find out. He's telling us how persistent he was in exploring the wall in the middle of the night, even when his mount couldn't go any further. He tells us the source of his ability to keep on keeping on: God put it in his heart to do this.
Quote #5
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the gaps were beginning to be closed, they were very angry, and all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. So we prayed to our God, and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. (NRSV Nehemiah 4:7-9)
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. (KJV Nehemiah 4:7-9)
The enemies turn out to be no match for the resourcefulness of Nehemiah. He organized the workers so they could guard and build at the same time. Come to think of it, the enemies were pretty persevering themselves. They try everything to stop the building—trickery, persuasion, appeals to the kings, threats. But they don't have you-know-who watching out for them.
Quote #6
But Judah said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, and there is too much rubbish so that we are unable to work on the wall." And our enemies said, "They will not know or see anything before we come upon them and kill them and stop the work." When the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, "From all the places where they live they will come up against us." So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. (NRSV Nehemiah 4:10-13)
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. (KJV Nehemiah 4:10-13)
The best offense is a good defense. Or is it the best defense is a good offense? Anyway, Nehemiah steps up his game in order to keep up the spirits of the exhausted workers who know that they could easily be surrounded and killed. This passage is a good visual—you can imagine the piles of rubble all around and the workers just wanting to give up. If you've ever walked into your room planning to clean it up, taken one look, and walked out, imagine having to do that for a whole town. Here's the exact moment in history when Nehemiah coined the phrase "oy vey."