Keraia
Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2:13

Nehemiah Inspects the Walls · Nehemiah 2:11–20
Read Nehemiah 2

Translations

Modern
So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And I went out through the Gate of the Valley by night, and to the front of the Well of the Serpent, and to the Gate of the Dunghill. And I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down, and its gates that had been consumed with the fire.
Latin
Et egressus sum per portam vallis nocte, et ante fontem draconis, et ad portam stercoris, et considerabam murum Jerusalem dissipatum, et portas ejus consumptas igni.

Original

Hebrew
English
So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.

Notes

Nehemiah 2:13

  • Jackal’s Well might have been En-rogel, a water source about 365 meters (400 yards) south of the city, or the Pool of Siloam, which fills with water from Hezekiah’s winding tunnel.

  • The Dung Gate, called the Potsherd Gate in Jeremiah 19:2, is at the southern end of the western wall (see Nehemiah 3:13) and led to the Hinnom Valley, where city inhabitants threw their garbage.

Nehemiah 2:12–15

Nehemiah needed to see the walls himself to make strong plans for rebuilding and to gather the workers he needed. He secretly checked the walls at night to avoid being seen by his enemies. He only inspected the southern part of the city.

Nehemiah 1:1–2:20

When Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem's ruins, he prayed for God's help (Nehemiah 1:1–11) and asked the king to send him to Jerusalem (2:1–8). Upon arrival, he urged the people to rebuild the city's wall (Nehemiah 2:11–20).

Theme notes and profiles

Nehemiah Jerusalem Rebuilding of Jerusalem

Places

Dragon Spring: A water source near Jerusalem, mentioned in Nehemiah's wall inspection Dung Gate: A gate in Jerusalem's wall, possibly used for waste removal Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Valley Gate: A gate in Jerusalem's wall, rebuilt by Nehemiah

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Dragon’s Well Dung Gate Horonite Jackal Jerusalem Nehemiah (Person) Samaria Sanballat Tobiah Valley Gate Well of the Serpent

Topics

Country: Love of Gates of Jerusalem: Valley Gate Gihon: Hezekiah Brings the Waters of the Upper Pool by an Aqueduct Into the City of Jerusalem Hezekiah: King of Judah: Conducts the Gihon Brook Into Jerusalem Jerusalem: Dung Gate Jerusalem: Valley Gate Jerusalem: Water Supply Brought in from the Gihon Brook by Hezekiah Prudence: Nehemiah Prudence: Nehemiah, in Conduct of Affairs at Jerusalem Sciences: Surveying Walls of Cities: Destruction of, a Punishment and Cause of Grief