The reference to the night
indicates that to Nehemiah, the secrecy of darkness was essential to the success of his plan. We are to imagine that the population of the city and those dwelling outside were in their beds so that all streets were silent.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.