Nehemiah 2:11-16

11 ¹So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.

12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.

13 I went out by night by ²the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to ³the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem ⁴that were broken down ⁵and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.

14 Then I went on to ⁶the Fountain Gate and to ⁷the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

15 Then I went up in the night ⁸by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.

16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do 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.

Cross References

• 1. Ezra 8:32
• 2. Nehemiah 3:13; 2 Chronicles 26:9
• 3. Nehemiah 3:13, 14; Nehemiah 12:31
• 4. Nehemiah 1:3
• 5. ver. 3, 17
• 6. Nehemiah 3:15; Nehemiah 12:37
• 7. 2 Kings 20:20; [Nehemiah 3:16; 2 Chronicles 32:3, 30]
• 8. 2 Samuel 15:23