This verse and the next verse both begin with the Hebrew construction with the connective conjunction and the verb “to be” as a mark of movement in the narrative (see the comments on verse 1 above). Revised Standard Version does not have an expression for it here or in the next verse. New King James Version has “And it happened.” Translators may use a discourse marker in their own language to signal the new episode, for example, “Then” or “After that.”

It was known to us: As Good News Translation makes explicit, this refers to the plan of the enemies.

God had frustrated their plan: The Hebrew word for frustrated is literally “broken,” which can be understood to mean that the plan had been “defeated” (Good News Translation) or was unfulfilled. Some languages will say God “spoiled” their plan.

New Jerusalem Bible has added the clause “they withdrew” after plan, but there is no textual basis for this in the present text for which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project has an A rating.

We all returned to the wall: The Hebrew text does not specify the logical relationship between this clause and what precedes it, but its meaning is clear. Good News Translation therefore restructures the verse into two sentences expressing first the fact that the enemies discovered that their plans had been discovered and thwarted; then it expresses the fact that the Jews, having assured their own security, were able to return to the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Good News Translation provides a good model for restructuring the verse.

Each to his work: Here the narrative returns to the rebuilding that was interrupted at the end of chapter 3 by this episode. The difference between then and now is that now the work will continue in an atmosphere of war.

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 .