נחמיה, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״ד

Nehemiah's journey to inspect the ruined walls of Jerusalem continues southward [מלבי״ם], leading him toward the city's central water sources. He arrives at a gate historically used by the residents to exit the city and draw water from the local spring [רלב״ג]. From there, he proceeds to the King's Pool, a significant body of water [מצודת ציון]. Traditions vary regarding its exact royal function. It may have been the reservoir used to water the king's horses, supply the palace, or irrigate the gardens of King Solomon [רלב״ג]. Alternatively, it served as the designated site for washing the garments of the royal household [רב סעדיה גאון].

As Nehemiah attempts to navigate through the damaged sections of the wall, he encounters a complete blockage, finding no room for his animal to pass. The severe state of the ruins makes the path entirely impassable for a rider. One approach explains that the collapse of the walls and gates left the remaining openings too narrow and low, preventing anyone riding an animal from squeezing through the gaps [רש״י, שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. A complementary view focuses on the condition of the ground itself, noting that the path was completely destroyed and cluttered with massive piles of stones from the fallen walls, leaving no clear space to advance [רלב״ג, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. Confronted with these overwhelming physical obstacles, Nehemiah is forced to dismount his animal and continue his inspection on foot [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].