Nehemiah 4:13

Therefore set I, &c. Nehemiah's action recorded in this verse was intended to meet the needs of the situation generally. -Therefore" must not be limited in application to Nehemiah 4:12. The difficulties which beset him on so many sides compelled him to suspend part of the building operations, and to employ some of his available men for purposes of defence.

in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places R.V. In the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, In the open places. The original in this passage is very obscure. The true meaning seems to be given by the R.V. Nehemiah stationed armed detachments under the cover of the wall, in the open spaces, where houses and buildings would not interfere with their movement.

The difficulties of the clause are occasioned by (1) the verb -I set" without an object, although repeated with an object in the next clause: (2) the word rendered -the space" (lit. -the place"); (3) the words -in the open places." The LXX. ἐν τοῖς σκεπεινοῖς seems to have understood -sheltered places." Others explain of -places where the sun shone," i.e. where the glint of the soldiers" armour would betray their presence and deter attack.

According to one bold conjecture we should render, -And I set the engines (or catapults) in the space behind the wall in well-protected positions."

aftertheir families Probably defending the portion of the wall upon which they were at work. This distribution of the defence among families guaranteed the discipline and organization and energy resulting from the strong clan feeling of the Semitic races. Many would thus be required merely to defend their own homes: cf. Nehemiah 3:28.

swords … spears … bows the chief offensive weapons: swords for the hand-to-hand melée, spears as the enemy drew near, the bow and arrow for attack from the distance.