Nehemiah 2:11-16

Preparing to Rebuild the Walls

11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,

12 I got up at night and [took] a few men with me. I didn't tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took^[a] was the one I was riding.

13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent's^[b] Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.^[c]

14 I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through.

15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate and returned.

16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work.

Nehemiah 2:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 2

Nehemiah being sorrowful in the king's presence, the reason of it was asked by the king, which he declared, and then took the opportunity to request of the king that he might be sent to Jerusalem to rebuild it, which was granted him, Ne 2:1-8, upon which he set out, and came to Jerusalem, to the great grief of the enemies of Israel, Ne 2:9-11 and after he had been three days in Jerusalem, he privately took a survey of it, to see what condition it was in, unknown to the rulers there, Ne 2:12-16, whom he afterwards exhorted to rise up and build the wall of the city, which they immediately set about, Ne 2:17,18 not regarding the scoffs and taunts of their enemies, Ne 2:19,20.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit animal with me
• [b]. Or Dragon's
• [c]. Neh 1:3