Nehemiah 2:12

“And I arose in the might, I and some few men with me, etc.] Both the season of the night, and the small number of men to accompany him, were chosen for greater secrecy, that the business he came upon might not as yet be known, and so no schemes formed to obstruct or discourage: neither told I any man what God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; he was satisfied that what he had in view was from the Lord, who had stirred him up to it, but thought it prudent for the present to conceal it, until things were prepared to put it in execution: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon; he only rode perhaps on a mule, being not yet recovered quite from the fatigue of…”

“Night - Concealing both his intentions as long as he could, knowing that the life of his business lay in secrecy and expedition. Beast - To prevent noise. Nehemiah 2:13”

“2:12-15 Nehemiah needed firsthand knowledge of the condition of the walls to present credible plans for their reconstruction and to rally the labor he would need. He conducted his survey secretly after dark to avoid detection by his opponents. His inspection covered only the southern part of the city.”

“I arose: Gen 32:22-24; Jos 10:9; Jdg 6:27, Jdg 9:32; Mat 2:14 neither: Ecc 3:7; Amo 5:13; Mic 7:5; Mat 10:16 my God: This pious and noble-minded man attributes every thing to God. If he purposed any good, it was because God put it into his heart; if he did or received any good, it was because the good hand of his God was upon him; if he expected any good, it was because he earnestly prayed God to remember him for good. Ezr 7:27; Psa 51:18, Psa 122:6; Jer 31:33, Jer 32:40; Co2 8:16; Jam 1:16, Jam 1:17; Rev 17:17 Nehemiah 2:13”