Shabbethai and Jozabad, leaders<n id="1" /> of the Levites, were in charge of the external work for the temple of God;

<p class="bodytext">Our adversaries also boasted,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Before they are aware or anticipate<n id="2" /> anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt!&#8221;p>

I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing<n id="1" /> a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.p>

<p class="bodytext">So I sent messengers to them saying, &#8220;I am engaged in<n id="1" /> an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">All of them were wanting<n id="1" /> to scare us, supposing, &#8220;Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won&#8217;t get done.&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">So now, strengthen my hands!<n id="2" />p>

Some of the family leaders gave to the project treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas.

<p class="bodytext">I also discovered that the grain offerings for the Levites had not been provided, and that as a result the Levites and the singers who performed this work had all gone off to their fields.

The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers.

<p class="bodytext">I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, &#8220;The work is demanding<n id="1" /> and extensive, and we are spread out on the wall, far removed from one another.

When all our enemies heard and all the nations who were around us saw<n id="1" /> this, they were greatly disheartened.<n id="2" /> They knew that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.p>

and their colleagues<n id="1" /> who were carrying out work for the temple &#8211; 822; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah,