The temptation is to assume that Nehemiah rested for three days before he began the activity described in Nehemiah 2:12 (Ezra 8:32). Given, however, that in the subsequent verses Nehemiah secretly goes out to inspect (part of) the wall, it may be assumed that he used the three days between his arrival and this inspection to get a sense of the lay of the land, including what he could learn about the scope of his upcoming task in repairing the wall. It may be understood that from within the city precinct, Nehemiah could observe much of the ruins of the wall as well as the gates. What he observed in those three days would also inform him concerning which part of the wall he needed to examine more carefully.
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.