John Gill Commentary Nehemiah 4:11

"And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease." — Nehemiah 4:11 (ASV)

And our adversaries said, they shall not know
Our designs upon them:

neither see ;
or perceive what we are about to do:

till we come in the midst of them ;
with an army suddenly, at an unawares, and unexpected:

and slay them ;
they being unarmed, and not prepared to defend themselves:

and cause the work to cease ;
as it must in course, the builders being slain.