Nehemiah’s Inspection of the Walls

¹¹ So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. ¹² Then I got up during the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the animal I rode. ¹³ I went out by night by the Valley Gate past the Dragon’s Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.^{(A) 14} Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no place for the animal I was riding to continue.^{(B) 15} So I went up by way of the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate and so returned. ¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.