Just as in Nehemiah 4:9, the reference is first to Nehemiah (for he is the writer) and then to those with him, namely, those engaged in reconstructing Jerusalem’s broken wall. Some of those labouring on the wall came from distant communities within Judah (Nehemiah 3:2, Nehemiah 3:5, Nehemiah 3:7). Their townsfolk (relatives?) now urged them to come home before the enemies would carry out their threats to kill them (Nehemiah 4:11). Added to the discouragement of the ditty plus the threat of attack, this demand turned up the pressure on Nehemiah to find a way to rally the builders before they quit. Obviously, once fear compelled them to quit building, it would be exceedingly difficult to remotivate them.
12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”