Because of the urgency of the rebuilding and the need to protect themselves, Nehemiah gave instructions for both day and night. This order by Nehemiah to pass the night within Jerusalem would have been given before the statement in the previous verse about their working hours. Previously the workers returned to their own villages outside Jerusalem at night. Now they were to remain inside Jerusalem at night so that the city would be defended at all times and so that the work could go on during the entire daytime.

Every man and his servant here probably refers to each builder and the guard assigned to protect him (see verse 16 above). It may also be interpreted to mean that each builder had his own helper or assistant, but this is less likely. They all were to stay inside Jerusalem at night.

Nehemiah’s instructions are recorded in direct quotation. Good News Translation changes to indirect quotation. Direct quotation should be retained in translation unless there is a strong reason in the literary style of the receptor culture not to do so. In some languages it might be helpful to translate verses 21-22 together and reverse the order to follow the logical flow of events.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .