PREPARING TO REBUILD THE WALLS

11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,b 12 I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I tookA was the one I was riding. 13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’sB Well and the Dung Gate,c and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.d 14 I went on to the Fountain Gatee and the King’s Pool,f but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gateg and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work.