Nehemiah 4:17-18, 21

Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. Every builder had his sword secured at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet [to summon the troops] stood at my side.

So we carried on with the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars came out.