Nehemiah 2:9,10

Now Nehemiah had letters from the king. This would show people that the king had changed his decision about Jerusalem. People would also see the soldiers that the king sent to protect Nehemiah. Then they would know that the king was helping Nehemiah. But some of the people who lived near *Judah heard about all this. They were angry. Because they were the *Jews’ enemies, they did not want anyone to help the people in *Israel.

v11-12 Then I came to Jerusalem. After three days, I got up during the night and I went out. Only a few men went with me. God had given me the desire to do something for Jerusalem. But I told nobody about this. I took no horses except the horse that I rode on. v13 And I went out at night through the Valley Gate to the Snake Fountain and the Rubbish Gate. I examined the walls of Jerusalem. They were just heaps of stones. And I saw that fire had burned the gates. v14 I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool. But I could not continue further because of the heaps of stones. The horse that I was riding could not pass through. v15 So I went up, during the night, by the stream. And I examined the wall. Then I turned back. I went through the Valley Gate. And so I returned. v16 The leaders did not know where I had gone. They did not know what I was doing. I did not tell the *Jews, or the priests, or the chief men. Nor did I tell the officials or the other people who would be doing the work.