Thus in Judahit was said,"The strengthof the burdenbearersis failing,Yet there is muchrubbish;And we ourselvesare unableTo rebuildthe wall."
He appointed70000of them to carryloadsand 80,000to quarry[stones] in the mountainsand 3,600supervisorsto make the peoplework.
[They were] also overthe burdenbearers,and supervisedallthe workmenfrom jobto job;and [some] of the Levites[were] scribesand officialsand gatekeepers.
Our enemiessaid,"They will not knowor seeuntilwe comeamongthem, killthem and puta stopto the work."
He spokein the presenceof his brothersand the wealthy[men] of Samariaand said,"Whatare these feebleJewsdoing?Are they going to restore[it] for themselves? Can they offersacrifices?Can they finishin a day?Can they revivethe stonesfrom the dustyrubbleeven the burnedones?"
But we prayedto our God,and becauseof them we setup a guardagainstthem dayand night.
"Sonof man,Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylonmade his armylaborhardagainstTyre;everyheadwas madebaldand everyshoulderwas rubbedbare.But he and his armyhadnowagesfrom Tyrefor the laborthat he had performedagainstit."
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,'Thispeoplesays,"The timehas not come,[even] the timefor the houseof the LORDto be rebuilt."'"
But the menwhohad goneup with him said,"We are not ableto goup againstthe people,for they are toostrongfor us."
"For when they wentup to the valleyof Eshcoland sawthe land,they discouragedthe sonsof Israelso that they did not gointo the landwhichthe LORDhad giventhem.
