Nehemiah 2:12, commentary and pictures

Nehemiah arose in the night with only a few trusted men to inspect Jerusalem for himself, telling no one what God had put in his heart to do there and taking no animal except the one he rode. On the third night after his arrival he rose at midnight and rode on his mule from part to part surveying the broken walls and burned gates, his heart filled with sorrow as past greatness stood in sharp contrast to present humiliation. He kept his purpose hidden even from his own countrymen because bitter enemies stood ready to oppose the work, and he needed time to study the ruin and form his plans so he could secure cooperation before fear or prejudice was stirred. Though he carried a royal commission requiring their help, he would not depend on authority but sought to gain their confidence and sympathy, knowing that union of hearts as well as of hands was essential to the rebuilding. The burden weighed so heavily that he could not sleep, and after completing his silent circuit he spent the remainder of the night in prayer, while seeing the weakness of the city with his own eyes gave earnestness and power to his morning call to arouse and unite his dispirited countrymen.

Arrival and Night Inspection

Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in safety, bearing royal letters to the governors along his route that secured for him honorable reception, prompt assistance, and the protection of Persian power so that no enemy dared molest him. Yet his coming with a military escort marked him as on an important mission and stirred the jealousy of the heathen tribes living near the city, foremost Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, who watched his movements with critical eyes and sought by every means to thwart his plans and hinder his work. The verse means that he arose in the night with only a few men to inspect Jerusalem, telling no man his plan and taking no beast with him except the one he rode. The work he intended to do at Jerusalem he recognized as what his God had put in his heart.

He acted on the third night after his arrival, rising at midnight with a few trusted companions to see the ruin for himself. Mounted on his mule, he rode from one part of the city to another, surveying the broken-down walls and gates of the city of his fathers. As he gazed on the ruined defenses of his beloved Jerusalem, his heart was filled with sorrow and painful reflection, with memories of Israel's past greatness standing in sharp contrast to the evidences of her humiliation.

The burden of the work weighed so heavily on him that he could not sleep. After completing his circuit in secrecy and silence he spent the remainder of the night in prayer. The morning would call for earnest effort to arouse and unite his dispirited and divided countrymen.

Prudent Secrecy and Leadership

He concealed the nature of his mission and told no one what God had put in his heart to do at Jerusalem, because bitter and determined enemies stood ready to oppose and obstruct the work. He kept his purpose hidden while he studied the situation and formed his plans, hoping to secure the cooperation of the people and set them at work before opposition was aroused to stir up fear or prejudice. He kept the plan God had put in his heart to rebuild Jerusalem secret even from his countrymen, acting with prudence because careless actions might provoke the enemies' jealousy and cause the undertaking to fail.

He kept his night inspection secret even from the people who would help him, though he carried a royal commission requiring their cooperation, because he did not want to depend on authority but to gain their confidence and sympathy. He knew that a union of hearts as well as of hands was essential for rebuilding the walls. He completed his circuit in secrecy and silence, telling nothing of what he did to the rulers, the Jews, the priests, the nobles, or the rest that did the work. The few men with him were men he knew to be worthy of confidence and trusted companions, and he did not rely on himself alone but told them the circumstances that had led him to come, the object he wished to accomplish, and the plans he proposed to follow, so their interest was enlisted and their assistance secured.

Although his hearers were not told of the midnight circuit, making it gave success to his morning call to arouse their dormant energies and unite their scattered numbers. Having looked upon the weakness and degradation of the city enabled him to speak of its condition with an accuracy and minuteness that astonished them and gave earnestness and power to his words. The verse belongs to the account of Nehemiah asking the king for help and receiving a generous response, teaching that God does not forbid His people from asking those in authority for assistance to advance God's work. God had put the work of rebuilding Jerusalem into Nehemiah's heart, and the work he began remained under God's care as he directed and encouraged the workers.