Nehemiah 2 14

Nehemiah 2:14 kjv

Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

Nehemiah 2:14 nkjv

Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass.

Nehemiah 2:14 niv

Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through;

Nehemiah 2:14 esv

Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

Nehemiah 2:14 nlt

Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but my donkey couldn't get through the rubble.

Nehemiah 2 verses

Nehemiah 2 14 Meaning

Nehemiah 2:14 details Nehemiah's continued covert assessment of Jerusalem's ruined walls by night. It specifically describes his attempt to pass by the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, an area critical for the city's water supply and defense. However, the debris and destruction were so severe that his mounted animal could not navigate the path, underscoring the formidable task of reconstruction ahead and the extensive decay of the city's defenses.

Nehemiah 2 14 Context

Nehemiah chapter 2 opens with Nehemiah in Susa, burdened by the news of Jerusalem's desolate state. After prayer and a favorable interaction with King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah receives permission, provisions, and protection to return to Jerusalem. Upon his arrival (Neh 2:11), Nehemiah waits three days before undertaking a secret, nocturnal inspection of the city's dilapidated walls and gates. This specific verse, Nehemiah 2:14, continues his tour, following his journey from the Valley Gate (Neh 2:13), moving towards the southeast quadrant of the city. The secrecy of his inspection was crucial; it prevented premature opposition from adversaries and allowed him to grasp the true extent of the devastation firsthand without external influence, informing his strategy before rallying the people. Historically, Jerusalem's walls had been broken down by Nebuchadnezzar's forces (2 Ki 25:9-10) over 140 years prior, leaving the city vulnerable, shamed, and a reproach among surrounding nations. Rebuilding these walls was not merely a construction project; it was an act of national and spiritual restoration, central to God's covenant with Israel and their identity as a distinct people.

Nehemiah 2 14 Word analysis

• Then I went on: This signifies the continuation of Nehemiah's personal, detailed inspection, picking up from his survey near the Valley Gate. It emphasizes his active, boots-on-the-ground assessment before verbalizing his plans.
• to the Fountain Gate: In Hebrew, שַׁעַר הָעַיִן (Sha'ar Ha'Ayin), meaning "Gate of the Spring" or "Gate of the Eye." This gate was located on the southeastern side of Jerusalem, providing access to vital water sources such as the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam in the Kidron Valley. Its strategic importance for the city's survival and defense cannot be overstated.
• and to the King's Pool: In Hebrew, בְּרֵכַת הַמֶּלֶךְ (Bereḵat HaMeleḵ). This pool was likely situated near the Fountain Gate, possibly connected to the water systems from the Gihon Spring. The designation "King's Pool" suggests its association with royal works, potentially dating back to Solomon or Hezekiah's time (2 Ki 20:20, Isa 7:3), signifying its long-standing importance for royal administration and the city's water supply. Its dilapidated state reflected the fallen glory of the kingdom.
• but there was no place: In Hebrew, אֵין מָקוֹם (Ein maqom), literally "no place." This stark phrase highlights the absolute impassability. The devastation was so complete that the usual paths and ways were completely obscured or blocked by rubble, debris, or overgrowth. It conveys a sense of profound ruin.
• for my animal: In Hebrew, לַבְּהֵמָה (la-behemah), specifically meaning "for the beast/animal," referring to the one Nehemiah was riding (implied from context, likely a donkey or horse). This detail humanizes Nehemiah's challenge and makes the destruction tangible. It was not just an inconvenience but a physical barrier.
• to pass: In Hebrew, לַעֲבֹר (la'avor), meaning "to pass," "to cross," or "to go through." It denotes movement and progression. The inability of his animal to pass signifies that the path was completely blocked, not just difficult. Nehemiah had to dismount, forcing him to continue his inspection on foot. This represents a tangible metaphor for the daunting challenge Jerusalem faced and the extra effort required for spiritual restoration in any era.

• "no place for my animal to pass": This phrase serves as a powerful testament to the utter destruction and prolonged neglect that Jerusalem had suffered. It visually emphasizes the severity of the task ahead. Nehemiah’s inability to traverse the path highlights the seemingly insurmountable human obstacles, setting the stage for demonstrating God’s enabling hand in the subsequent rebuilding (Neh 2:18). Spiritually, this can be understood as encountering insurmountable obstacles in personal or communal restoration, emphasizing that divine intervention is often required when human effort alone is blocked.

Nehemiah 2 14 Bonus section

• The Element of Night and Secrecy: Nehemiah's nocturnal inspection was critical. It allowed him to witness the unvarnished reality of Jerusalem's decay without drawing attention from potential adversaries or inadvertently stirring the despondent local populace too soon. This prudence mirrors wise leadership, which often prepares meticulously in private before public action (Prov 20:18).
• Symbolic Impassability: The path being impassable for his animal is a stark symbol. It illustrates not only the physical ruin but also the seemingly insurmountable nature of the spiritual and communal despair that had settled over Jerusalem. This physical block underscores the necessity of a spiritual breakthrough and God's miraculous intervention for true restoration.
• Foreshadowing Effort: The forced dismounting of Nehemiah and his animal serves as a subtle foreshadowing of the sheer manual labor and the personal grit that would be required from all the builders (Neh 3) to clear away rubble before new construction could even begin. The obstacles were literally piled up.

Nehemiah 2 14 Commentary

Nehemiah 2:14 presents a critical juncture in Nehemiah's secret assessment of Jerusalem's ruins. His journey to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, key areas for the city's vital water supply and defense, revealed the extent of the desolation. The inability of his riding animal to pass underscores the overwhelming physical challenges posed by debris and neglect. This detail is not merely observational; it profoundly emphasizes the seemingly impossible nature of the task Nehemiah faced, compelling him to proceed on foot. This act demonstrates Nehemiah's prudence, diligence, and determination, which would become hallmarks of his leadership. Furthermore, this initial confrontation with the "impossible" humanly foreshadows the need for divine aid, positioning the subsequent successful rebuilding as a testament to God's empowering presence. The condition of the gate and pool also symbolically reflects the degraded state of the community's spiritual life and their loss of identity and security.