Nehemiah 7:2-4

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

² I gave my brother Hanani charge over Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel—for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. ³ And I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot; while the gatekeepers^[a] are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their watch posts, and others before their own houses.” ⁴ The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built.