Nehemiah 4:21

So we laboured R.V. So we wrought. The word in the original being the same as that rendered -wrought" in Nehemiah 4:16, it is best to adhere to the same English equivalent. -We:" the pronoun is emphatic, i.e. I and my servants. The verse refers to Nehemiah and his men alone, as is shown by the mention of -half of them." It continues the narrative from Nehemiah 4:18; Nehemiah 4:19 are parenthetical.

half of them held the spears That is to say, Nehemiah's bodyguard was divided into two companies, who alternately worked at the wall and mounted guard, holding the weapons of their comrades in readiness.

till the stars appeared literally -till the going forth of the stars." The word is familiar to us from such passages as Genesis 19:23, -The sun was risen (lit. gone forth) upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar". Psalms 19:6, -His (the sun's) going forth is from the end of heaven." The stars come forth from their -chambers" (Job 9:9).