The previous verse recorded that Jerusalem’s population went back to work. Yet Nehemiah understood that their enemies would undoubtedly devise new plans to stop the rebuilding of the walls. So, going forward, Nehemiah made new arrangements to guard against that threat. His being proactive in the face of possible physical attacks encouraged the builders to focus on their work with less worry about such attacks.
16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,