(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.
Probably the three days before Nehemiah entered upon the great object of his journey, were spent in prayer. His night visit to the walls of Jerusalem serves to convince us, that the cause he had before him would meet with much opposition. His convening the people, and informing them what was in his mind, seems to intimate his great wisdom and good conduct. But let the Reader look through the historical part, to discover the great object intended from the whole as it concerned the church of God. The Lord had prophesied that Jerusalem should again be built; that old men should dwell in the streets.; and boys and girls yet play there. Zechariah 8:4-5. And more than this, the temple should be built, and the glory of it should exceed the former splendid temple of Solomon. And so it did when the Son of God came into it. Compare Haggai 2:7, with Luke 2:26-32. Hence, therefore, the good hand of the Lord was upon Nehemiah, and the Spirit of the Lord was directing him to the work with an eye to Jesus. Oh! how blessed it is to observe all things, and all providences, in the Old Testament scripture, ushering in the mercies of the New; and all directed to this one, and this only purpose, to introduce Jesus the Son of God, that we might believe in him, and that in believing we might have life through his name. John 20:31.