נחמיה, פרק ד׳, פסוק ט״ו

Living under the shadow of constant security threats, the builders of Jerusalem's wall had to combine unwavering dedication to their mission with careful tactical planning. Despite the looming danger, the people refused to abandon their construction efforts [מצודת דוד].

To ensure the work could continue safely, a clear division of labor was established. Half of the group, understood either as half of the entire nation or specifically half of Nehemiah's young men, took up spears [מצודת דוד]. This arrangement was born out of strict military necessity. Because the builders were spread out along the length of the wall, having each worker hold a weapon while trying to build would have been ineffective. Scattered individuals cannot mount a strong defense. Instead, one half of the people focused entirely on the construction, while the other half gathered tightly together on guard duty. Armed and standing in close formation, they were fully prepared to confront any enemy attack and protect those who were building [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

This intense routine of labor and defense consumed every available hour of daylight [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their efforts began at the very break of dawn, defined as the first sparkling light in the eastern sky before sunrise [מצודת ציון]. This early light marked the transition from darkness to visibility, allowing the workers to see clearly enough to begin. They continued without pause until the stars appeared in the night sky, specifically when three stars became visible. This entire extended timeframe is fundamentally considered daytime, as the essence of the day is defined by the sun and its light. Therefore, from the first light of dawn until the stars finally emerged, the presence of the sun's light, even when the sun itself was not fully visible, governed their schedule and made both the building and the guarding possible [רלב״ג].