Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days(A) 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate(B) toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate,(C) examining the walls(D) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate(E) and the King’s Pool,(F) but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.(G) Come, let us rebuild the wall(H) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.(I) 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me(J) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Serpent or Fig

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.

16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

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Nehemiah Views the Wall of Jerusalem

11 So I (A)came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. 13 And I went out by night (B)through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the [a]Refuse Gate, and [b]viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were (C)broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the (D)Fountain Gate and to the (E)King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the (F)valley,[c] and [d]viewed the wall; then 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 had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies [e]waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be (G)a reproach.” 18 And I told them of (H)the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.

So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they (I)set[f] their hands to this good work.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:13 Dung
  2. Nehemiah 2:13 examined
  3. Nehemiah 2:15 torrent valley, wadi
  4. Nehemiah 2:15 examined
  5. Nehemiah 2:17 desolate
  6. Nehemiah 2:18 Lit. strengthened