Nehemiah 4:16-18

4:16 From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, ¹  shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people ²  of Judah 4:17 who were rebuilding the wall. ³  Those who were carrying loads did so ⁴  by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon. 4:18 The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter ⁵  remained with me.

¹ tc The MT reads “and spears.” The conjunction should be deleted.

² tn Heb “all the house.”

³ tn The first words of v. 17, “who were rebuilding the wall,” should be taken with the latter part of v. 16.

⁴ tn Heb “were carrying loads.” The LXX reads ἐν ὅπλοις (en hoplois, “with weapons”).

⁵ tn Heb “the one blowing the shophar.”