Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem

¹¹ I went to Jerusalem and ·stayed there three days [or after three days…]. ¹² Then at night I started out with a few men. I had not told anyone what God had ·caused me [put in my mind/heart] to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me except the one I was riding.

¹³ I went out at night through the Valley Gate. I rode toward the Dragon Well and the ·Trash [Garbage; Refuse; ^TDung] Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been ·destroyed [devoured] by fire. ¹⁴ Then I rode on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for the animal I was riding to pass through. ¹⁵ So I went up the ·valley [ravine; ^Clikely the Kidron Valley; many of these walls no longer exist] at night, inspecting the wall. Finally, I turned and went back in through the Valley Gate. ¹⁶ The ·guards [officials] did not know where I had gone or what I was doing. I had not yet said anything to the Jewish people, the priests, the ·important men [nobles], the ·officers [officials], or any of the others who would do the work.