Chapter 3: Ruins by Moonlight

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he waited three days. He told no one what God had put in his heart to do. Then, in the middle of the night, he took a few men and rode out on a donkey to inspect the walls. No officials, no announcement. Just a small group moving through the darkness.

He rode through the Valley Gate toward the Dung Gate and on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool. At one point, the rubble was so dense that the donkey could not pass through. He saw enough. He turned back before anyone in the city knew where he had gone or what he had done.

Then he gathered the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the people. He did not soften what he had seen. He showed them the evidence and told them what God had already provided. The king's favor. The letters. The timber.

NEHEMIAH“You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”— Nehemiah 2:17

THE PEOPLE“Let us start rebuilding!”— Nehemiah 2:18

They began the work with willing hands. But not everyone was willing. When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard what was happening, they mocked and ridiculed them.

SANBALLAT“What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”— Nehemiah 2:19

NEHEMIAH“The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”— Nehemiah 2:20