Nehemiah 4:13

13. Set I Or, then I stationed, to wit, people, as is seen further on.

In the lower places Better, as the margin, from, or at, the lower parts of the place. That is, he stationed men at the lower parts of the city, where there was special danger and greater exposure.

Behind the wall To defend it, and prevent the enemy from entering the city at those points. The wall thus served as a fortification.

And on the higher places The and should be omitted, and the rest rendered in the exposed parts. This phrase is not, as the English version makes it, the opposite of the lower places, but relates to behind the wall. He stationed men behind the wall in the exposed places.

I even set This is a repetition of the first words of the verse, and followed immediately by the object of the verb.

The people All the inhabitants of the city. They were distributed into the various parts of the city, especially in the lower and more exposed parts, so that all the place was under guard.

After their families Rather, according to families. The people were distributed by family groups, so that the men that guarded any particular part of the wall had their families and kinsmen nearest them.

Swords… spears… bows These were not the only kinds of weapons with which they were provided. See Nehemiah 4:16.