Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 So I (A)came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12 And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my [a]mind to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13 So I went out at night by (B)the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Spring and on to the Dung Gate, and I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem (C)which were broken down and its (D)gates which had been consumed by fire. 14 Then I passed on to (E)the Fountain Gate and (F)the King’s Pool, but there was no place for [b]my mount to pass. 15 So I was going up at night by the (G)ravine and inspecting the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16 However, the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:12 Lit heart
  2. Nehemiah 2:14 Lit the animal under me

Preparing to Rebuild the Walls

11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,(A) 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,(B) 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(D) and the King’s Pool,(E) 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(F) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:12 Lit animal with me
  2. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Dragon’s