Nehemiah 2:14

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.

Then I went on {H5674} to the gate {H8179} of the fountain {H5869}, and to the king's {H4428} pool {H1295}: but there was no place {H4725} for the beast {H929} that was under me to pass {H5674}.

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

Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through;

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

Commentary

Nehemiah 2:14 describes a critical moment in Nehemiah's secret inspection of Jerusalem's ruined walls, revealing the extent of the city's devastation.

Context

This verse is part of Nehemiah's nocturnal survey of the devastated walls of Jerusalem. Having secured permission from King Artaxerxes to return and rebuild, Nehemiah wisely undertook a solo, unannounced inspection to grasp the full scope of the task. He rode around the city, assessing the damage firsthand, a crucial step before presenting his plan to the Jewish leaders and beginning the immense work of restoration.

Key Themes

  • Thorough Assessment: Nehemiah's actions underscore the importance of diligent, firsthand inspection before embarking on a major undertaking. He didn't rely on reports but personally confronted the reality of the situation.
  • Severity of Ruin: The physical impossibility for his animal to pass ("no place for the beast... to pass") vividly illustrates the extensive and overwhelming destruction of Jerusalem's defenses. The walls were not just broken but completely impassable in sections, filled with rubble.
  • Strategic Secrecy: Nehemiah conducted this initial survey in secret, preventing premature opposition from those who might oppose the rebuilding efforts, as he would later face from Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 4:1).

Linguistic and Historical Insights

The "gate of the fountain" and "king's pool" refer to specific topographical features of ancient Jerusalem. The "gate of the fountain" was likely near the Gihon Spring or En-rogel, vital water sources for the city, particularly the Gihon, which fed the Pool of Siloam. The "king's pool" could be the Pool of Siloam itself or another nearby reservoir. The fact that Nehemiah's "beast" (likely a donkey or mule) could not pass indicates that this section of the wall was not merely breached but choked with debris, making passage impossible.

Practical Application

Nehemiah's meticulous approach offers valuable lessons for leadership and problem-solving today. Before attempting to fix a problem, it is essential to conduct a thorough and honest assessment of its true scope. This verse encourages us to:

  • Confront Reality: Don't shy away from the full extent of a challenge, even if it seems overwhelming.
  • Plan Diligently: Effective action is built upon careful, detailed preparation, much like Nehemiah's inspection laid the groundwork for the successful rebuilding effort that followed.
  • Overcome Obstacles: Just as Nehemiah faced physical impassability, we may encounter seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This verse reminds us that recognizing the problem is the first step toward finding a solution.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 3:15

    But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.

  • 2 Kings 20:20

    And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

  • 2 Chronicles 32:30

    This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

  • 2 Kings 18:17

    ¶ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field.
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