At the Fountain Gate: After the Dung Gate the wall turned north by the Fountain Gate (see Neh 2.14). Refer to the map of the wall of Jerusalem at the introductory comments on Neh 3.1-32.

They went up straight before them is a fairly literal rendering of the Hebrew, which is expressed more simply by Good News Translation. They refers to the first group of the procession that Ezra was leading. Before them refers to themselves. Amplified Bible renders it as “they went up straight ahead.” New Jerusalem Bible says “they went straight on up.” Some languages will express this direct action adverbially; others may use an ideophone to indicate the directness of the movement of the procession.

For the stairs of the city of David, see the comments at Neh 3.15.

The phrase at the ascent of the wall indicates that the wall at this point was very steep. It is not clear exactly where they went at this point: whether they left the wall and went up a staircase, went on stairs over the wall, or rejoined the wall at this point. In any case, they proceeded above the house of David, on the city wall overlooking it.

The house of David often refers to the family line of King David, that is, to David’s royal dynasty. However, in this account, it refers to a geographical location. Here it is King David’s palace (Good News Translation). Although the palace itself had been burned by the Babylonians (Jer 39.8), the location where the royal palace had stood was a well-known place and therefore it served as a precise point of reference. At the same time, the name of David is a reminder of the heritage of Jerusalem. Many languages have a special name for the royal dwelling; in others it will be necessary to describe the building, for example, “the house-kingdom of David” or “the kingly house of David.”

To the Water Gate on the east: The Water Gate was on the east side of the Temple wall (see Neh 3.26). The east is the direction or side of the rising sun. The procession probably left the city wall at the Horse Gate and went west to the Water Gate of the Temple.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .