Having inspired the community to commit to rebuilding the wall, Nehemya moves swiftly to repair the breaches, dividing responsibility for forty-two stretches of wall among a range of leaders, families, and townspeople. By the chapter’s end, the Jews had managed to complete the wall’s entire circumference, albeit to only half its intended height.
Sanbalat and his colleagues turn to the threat of physical violence. Nehemya responds by establishing guard duty throughout the course of the night. Giving arms to the citizens of Jerusalem, he inspires the people to be unafraid, remember God, and fight on behalf of their families.
Instead of dwelling on the negativity or engaging in extended conversations, Nehemya responds with decisive action, moving at breakneck pace to create the facts on the ground necessary to ensure the Jews’ safety. In so doing, he co-opts the Jews’ energies into assisting with the construction, rendering irrelevant their complaints.
Throughout the process, Nehemya does not take a moment for himself. He not only oversees the building and guard duty, but accepts personal responsibility for both.
