Nehemiah 2:12

12 And I rose up by night, I and a few men with me; and I told no man what God put into my heart to do with Israel; and there was no beast with me, except the beast which I rode upon.

Nehemiah 2:12 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 2:12

And I arose in the might, I and some few men with me
Both the season of the night, and the small number of men to accompany him, were chosen for greater secrecy, that the business he came upon might not as yet be known, and so no schemes formed to obstruct or discourage:

neither told I any man what God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem;
he was satisfied that what he had in view was from the Lord, who had stirred him up to it, but thought it prudent for the present to conceal it, until things were prepared to put it in execution:

neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon;
he only rode perhaps on a mule, being not yet recovered quite from the fatigue of his journey, and for the sake of honour; the rest went on foot, that there might be no noise made, and so pass on unheard and unobserved.

Nehemiah 2:12 In-Context

10 And Sanaballat the Aronite heard , and Tobia the servant, the Ammonite, and it was grievous to them that a man was come to seek good for the children of Israel.
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12 And I rose up by night, I and a few men with me; and I told no man what God put into my heart to do with Israel; and there was no beast with me, except the beast which I rode upon.
13 And I went forth by the gate of the valley by night, and to the mouth of the well of fig trees, and to the dung-gate: and I mourned over the wall of Jerusalem which they were destroying, and her gates were devoured with fire.
14 And I passed on to the fountain gate, and to the king's pool; and there was no room for the beast to pass under me.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.