נחמיה, פרק ד׳, פסוק י״ב

The reconstruction of the city walls took place under a state of intense military alert, requiring a constant readiness for battle. The workers had to seamlessly integrate their physical labor with armed defense, adapting their weapons to their specific roles on the construction site.

Those actively constructing the wall needed both hands completely free to perform their craft [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. As a result, each builder worked with a sword securely tied to his waist [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רש״י, מצודת דוד]. A sharp distinction is drawn between these builders and the laborers who carried the heavy materials [מלבי״ם]. While the builders wore sheathed swords, the burden-carriers held a drawn weapon directly in their hands. This difference was highly practical. A builder, unencumbered by heavy loads, could quickly draw a sword from his waist the moment an enemy approached. In contrast, a laborer weighed down by heavy materials would struggle to reach for a sheathed weapon. To ensure their safety, the carriers held a specific type of weapon—a double-edged blade designed for stabbing, held much like a spear, which never required unsheathing [מלבי״ם].

Beyond this personal defense strategy, a broader early warning system was established to protect the scattered workers. A skilled horn blower [מצודת דוד] was stationed permanently at the side of the leader [רש״י]. This individual was tasked with remaining on constant alert, ready to sound a battle cry at a moment's notice. In the event of a surprise attack or an advancing enemy, the blast of the horn would instantly alert the people and rally them together for immediate defense [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם].