So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
Sanballat and Tobiah grew furious because they feared what a walled Jerusalem would become: strong and formidable against them. Their scorn was malice dressed up as mockery, yet it backfired. They despised the work as foolish and beneath serious opposition, so they delayed their attacks until the Jews had already made too much progress to be stopped.
AI summary
Commenting on Nehemiah 4:1-6
The wall rose all around the city to half its height because the people's heart was truly in the work. They had a will to do it and pressed forward with speed. Good intention and steady labor accomplish what mere talk never can.
AI summary
all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof--The whole circuit of the wall had been distributed in sections to various companies of the people, and was completed to the half of the intended height.