John Trapp on Nehemiah 2:12

Verſe 12. And I aroſe in the night] His cares would not ſuffer him to ſleep ([non-Latin text not transcribed], &c.) but up he gets, and about the Walles: taking the Night,Homer. as fitteſt for ſecrecy, and ſafety.

I and ſome few men with me] He went not alone, leſt he ſhould fall into ſome danger of life, Vae ſoli: Not yet with many, leſt he ſhould make a diſturbance, and bewray his counſel. Be wiſe as Serpents. Matth. 10.

Neither told I any man what God had put into my heart] That the thing was of God, he nothing doubted: hence his fervour in following it: he knew there was a curſe to thoſe that do the Lords work negligently. That he might not be defeated of his purpoſe, he telles no man. He that would have his counſel kept, let him keep it to himſelf. Hardly ſhall a man meet with ſuch a Counſel-keeper as he was, who being upbrayded with his ſtinking breath, anſwered, that he had kept his friends ſecrets committed to him ſo long in his breaſt, that there they rotted: and thence was the unſavourineſſe of his breath.

Si ſapis, arcano vina reconde cado. Qui ſapit, arcano gaudeat ipſe ſinu.

Neither was there any beaſt] For the avoyding of noyſe.