This paragraph breaks into three sections (parallel to the structure of the previous paragraph). The first describes how the enemies connived together to increase pressure on the Jews through threats of attack and planting subversion within the Jewish community (Nehemiah 4:7–12). The second records Nehemiah’s response to their plotting (Nehemiah 4:13–20). This section in turn breaks down into two parts: first the initial response (Nehemiah 4:13–14) and then, as Nehemiah and his people got used to the new normal, a restructuring of assignments so as to ensure greater productivity (Nehemiah 4:15–20). The final section sums up the atmosphere in which the people of Judah continued the work on the wall (Nehemiah 4:21–23).
7 Mais Sanballat, Tobija, les Arabes, les Ammonites et les Asdodiens, furent très irrités en apprenant que la réparation des murs avançait et que les brèches commençaient à se fermer.