6 ¹⁵ On the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul the wall was finished; it had taken fifty-two days. 6 ¹⁶ When our enemies heard of it, and all the surrounding nations saw it Or were afraid, they thought it a very wonderful achievement they thought ... achievement: prob. rdg, Heb they fell very much in their own eyes, and they recognized that this work had been accomplished by the help of our God.

6 ¹⁷ All this time the nobles in Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and receiving replies from him. 6 ¹⁸ For many in Judah were in league with him, because he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married a daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. 6 ¹⁹ They were always praising Or repeating rumours about him in my presence and repeating to him what I said. Tobiah also wrote to me to intimidate me.

7 ¹ NOW WHEN THE WALL HAD BEEN REBUILT, and I had set the doors in place and the gate-keepers prob. rdg, Heb adds the singers and the Levites had been appointed, 7 ² I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and to Hananiah, the governor of the citadel, for he was trustworthy and God-fearing above other men. 7 ³ And I said to them, 'The entrances to Jerusalem are not to be left open during the heat of the day; the gates must be kept shut and barred while the gate-keepers are standing at ease. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some on sentry-duty and others posted in front of their own homes.'