Nehemiah 2:11-20

Ne 2:11

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

So Nehemiah completed his 740 mile (1191 KM) trip and finally arrived at Jerusalem.  He was there for a period of three days probably resting up from the long journey that he just completed.  During that time he probably made many inquiries with the people who returned from Babylon since about 518 B.C. which would have been 73 years.

Ne 2:12

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.

Then Nehemiah had kept his reason for coming to Jerusalem quiet at this time.  He arose in the night and took a small group of men with him but he was still concealing his  real purpose.  He wanted to keep this fact-finding mission quiet so he did not bring any other animals with him except the one he rode upon.  The Lord Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a beast and no one there knew exactly what his plan was.  He was to die for his people, the Elect of God.

Ne 2:13

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.

The gate of the valley would have been the Chief gate which overlooked the Tyropoeon valley which was on the Southwestern side.  The dragon well was also on the southwest side.  The dragon well was so named because it was a winding well or tributary like a large serpent.  The dung port was at the extreme southern end of the city.  Then he examined the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and in need of repair.  The gates were consumed with fire which means that they were completely burned up as a fire consumes any wooden object.  They were probably just large pieces of charcoal.

Ne 2:14

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.

The gate of the fountain was associated with a spring named “En-Rogel.”  And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel: (Joshua 15:7)  The king’s pool was somewhere in the Kidron valley but has not been positively identified although it could be the pool of Siloah.  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9:7)  The beast that Nehemiah was riding on could progress no further because of all the debris and rubble that was left from the Babylonian invasion.

Ne 2:15

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.

The brook was located in the Kidron valley which ran along the eastern side of the city.  He then took a good look at the wall and turned back and then reentered the city by the gate of the valley which was the main gate that was now absent since it was consumed in the fire.

Ne 2:16

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.

Then Nehemiah was still keeping his reason for coming to Jerusalem a secret to be revealed in the proper time. He did not tell them where he had gone nor did he tell them the reason for his short absence.  He was keeping to the truth found in Ecclesiastes 3:7.  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; (Ecclesiastes 3:7)  Nehemiah would reveal the reason for his arrival when the time is right because if he made known his mission, then that would have been more time for the enemies to mount an offensive so he wouldn’t be able to even start his task.  At this time he did not tell the political or religious leaders.  The element of surprise is very important.  Some whistleblowers who are going to reveal evil truths sometimes speak before they can do what they are planning and their efforts are thwarted.  One such example is Pat Tillman.  He was going to expose to the American public that the U.S. military in Afghanistan was being used to guard the poppy fields for the drug business.  His big mistake was that he told someone and the next thing he was killed with “friendly fire.”  If you believe it was friendly fire, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Ne 2:17

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.

Then he reveals his mission to them.  Once again Nehemiah identifies himself with the situation that exists in Jerusalem.   He tells them how Jerusalem is lying as waste which means “desolate or ruined.”  The gates are burned and therefore there is no protection from any of the marauders who would desire to come in to the city.  Then after he gives them the situation, he then gives them the solution to the problem.  He tells them to build up the walls and once again identifies himself as one who will partake in the work and not just sit around and supervise.  This way Jerusalem would not be a disgrace or rebuke since the condition of the city showed the result of God’s judgment upon it but since the Babylonian captivity was over, it was now time to rebuild the city.

Ne 2:18

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.

Then he assured them that this was not just a plan devised by him but it was God that had guided him to this time and to rebuild the walls.  Once they knew that Nehemiah’s mission was of the LORD and that it was endorsed by the king, they were put at ease since I am sure Nehemiah showed them the king’s letter plus the wood from the king’s forest would probably be showing up soon.   Then they made a conscious effort to rise up and begin to rebuild the walls and the gates.  To strengthen their hands meant they would prepare to make sure the project comes to successful completion.  Not only did they physically strengthen their hands but they were strengthened in the LORD who would guide this project all the way.

Ne 2:19

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

Then as soon as the people began to strengthen themselves to the work of the Lord, the trinity of evil begins to rear its ugly head.  The name “Geshem” means “rain.”  Immediately they tried to dissuade the people from this task by laughing at them in hopes they would feel embarrassed and leave the work.  The mission of Nehemiah was hated and scorned by these three enemies.  Immediately they started making false accusations against them.  First they asked what they intended to do and by whose authority are you doing this?  Then they did the same thing the crowd in Jerusalem did.  They accused the workers of rebelling against the king not knowing the king sanctioned the project.  When Christ was on trial the crowd yelled that Pilate was no friend of Caesar (John 19:12) if he let Christ go and Pilate gave in.  Like today, even in ancient times an accusation was almost accepted as representing the truth of the situation.

Ne 2:20

Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.