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.
Ver. 12. And I arose in the night] His cares would not suffer him to sleep, Oυ χρη παννυχιον (Homer), but up he gets, and about the walls; taking the night, as fittest for secrecy and safety.
I and some few men with me] He went not alone, lest he should fall into some danger of life, Vae soli; alas alone, nor yet with many, lest he should make a disturbance, and betray his counsel. "Be wise as serpents," Matthew 10:16 .
Neither told I any man what God had put into my heart] That the thing was of God he nothing doubted; hence his fervour in following it; he knew there was a curse to those that do the Lord's work negligently. That he might not be defeated from his purpose, he tells no man. He that would have his counsel kept, let him keep it to himself. Hardly shall a man meet with such a counsel keeper as he was, who, being upbraided with his stinking breath, answered, that he had kept his friends' secrets committed to him so long in his breast that there they rotted; and thence was the unsavouriness of his breath.
Si sapis, arcane vina reconde cado.
Qui sapit, arcano gaudeat ipse sinu.
Neither was there any beast ] For the avoiding of noise.