Nehemiah 7:2-4

International Standard Version

² I appointed my brother Hanani and fortress commander Hananiah to be over Jerusalem, since he was a faithful person who revered God more than many others did. ³ I charged them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until mid-day.^[a] Until then, let everyone stand watch, keeping the gates shut and locked. Appoint security watches from those who live in Jerusalem. Everyone should maintain his own watch near his house.” ⁴ Even though the city was large and spread out, not many people were living there and not many houses had been built.