en_tn_condensed/neh/04/21.md

Half of them

Here "Half" means one part out of two equal parts. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-fraction)

from the rising of the dawn until the coming out of the stars

This refers to the whole day, while it is light outside. AT: "from the first light of day until the very beginning of the night"

the rising of the dawn

It is the point in time that the sun rises that is "dawn." Here the sun rising is spoken of as if the "dawn" rose. AT: "the rising of the sun" or "dawn" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

in the middle of Jerusalem

"within Jerusalem"

changed our clothes

"took off our clothes"