This paragraph breaks into three sections. The first describes verbal abuse directed at the builders of Jerusalem’s broken walls (Nehemiah 4:1–3), the second relates Nehemiah’s (and the people’s) response (Nehemiah 4:5), and the third portrays the rebuilders’ persistence (Nehemiah 4:6).
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.