Covenant Reformed News – June 2024 • Volume XX, Issue 2
This article provides a detailed exegetical study of Nehemiah's nighttime inspection of Jerusalem's walls, examining the biblical text to reconstruct the geographical route, direction of travel, and purpose of his journey. Through careful analysis of the named gates and historical geography, the author demonstrates how close attention to scriptural details reveals Nehemiah's character and commitment to firsthand knowledge before undertaking the wall reconstruction project.
Nehemiah’s Night Ride The Bible records several instances of people riding on animals, such as Abraham’s old servant bringing Rebekah on a camel as a bride for Isaac (Gen. 24), Solomon mounted on David’s mule on his way out of Jerusalem to his coronation by the Gihon spring (I Kings 1) and Christ’s triumphal entry into the holy city upon a colt, the foal of an ass, on Palm Sunday (Zech. 9:9; John 12:12-16). However, only Nehemiah’s famous journey on a “beast” (Neh. 2:12, 14) around...