1)
Why did he rise in the night, and go with a small number of men?
1.
Malbim: He did not want to reveal yet that he wants to build the wall, lest enemies prosecute, like they did afterwards. He went with a few men on foot, lest they be noisy.
2)
What is the significance of having no animal, except for what he rides on?
1.
Rashi: The few men with me walked; only I rode on an animal. They did not want to ride on horses, so they could leave the city covertly, without people's knowledge. They wanted to break and fell the city wall at night and breach it more, so the people will agree to Nechemyah to build it.
