God's New Revelations

The Book of Nehemiah

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- Chapter 7 -

1
When the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.
2
Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
3
And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”

The captives who returned to Jerusalem

(Ezra 2:1-67)
4
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
5
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. I found the genealogical register of those who had first returned, and I found the following written in it:
6
These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,
7
accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.(a) This is the count of the men of Israel:
8
the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;
9
the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
10
the descendants of Arah, 652;
11
the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;
12
the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
13
the descendants of Zattu, 845;
14
the descendants of Zaccai, 760;
15
the descendants of Binnui,(b) 648;
16
the descendants of Bebai, 628;
17
the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;
18
the descendants of Adonikam, 667;
19
the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;
20
the descendants of Adin, 655;
21
the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;
22
the descendants of Hashum, 328;
23
the descendants of Bezai, 324;
24
the descendants of Hariph,(c) 112;
25
the descendants of Gibeon,(d) 95;
26
the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;
27
the men of Anathoth, 128;
28
the men of Beth-azmaveth,(e) 42;
29
the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
30
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
31
the men of Michmash, 122;
32
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
33
the men of the other Nebo,(f) 52;
34
the descendants of the other Elam,(g) 1,254;
35
the descendants of Harim, 320;
36
the men (h) of Jericho, 345;
37
the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;
38
and the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.
39
The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973;
40
the descendants of Immer, 1,052;
41
the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;
42
and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.
43
The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodevah (i)), 74.
44
The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 148.
45
The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138 in all.
46
The temple servants:(j) the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,
47
the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia,(k) the descendants of Padon,
48
the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai,
49
the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar,
50
the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda,
51
the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah,
52
the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephushesim,(l)
53
the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,
54
the descendants of Bazlith,(m) the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,
55
the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,
56
the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.
57
The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida,(n)
58
the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,
59
the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon.(o)
60
The temple servants and descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all.
61
The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon,(p) and Immer, but could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:
62
the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642 in all.
63
And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).
64
These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
65
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.(q)
66
The whole assembly numbered 42,360,
67
in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 245 male and female singers.
68
They had 736 horses, 245 mules, (r)
69
435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
(Exodus 38:21-31; Ezra 2:68-70)
70
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold,(s) 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
71
And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the project 20,000 darics of gold (t) and 2,200 minas of silver.(u)
72
The rest of the people gave a total of 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver,(v) and 67 priestly garments.
73
So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.

Footnotes

(a)7:7 Parallel text at Ezra 2:2 accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah
(b)7:15 Binnui is a variant of Bani; see Ezra 2:10.
(c)7:24 Hariph is a variant of Jorah; see Ezra 2:18.
(d)7:25 Gibeon is a variant of Gibbar; see Ezra 2:20.
(e)7:28 Beth-azmaveth is a variant of Azmaveth; see Ezra 2:24.
(f)7:33 Or of West Nebo
(g)7:34 Or of West Elam
(h)7:36 Literally the sons; here and in verse 37
(i)7:43 Hodevah is a variant of Hodaviah; see Ezra 2:40.
(j)7:46 Hebrew The Nethinim; also in verses 60 and 73
(k)7:47 Sia is a variant of Siaha; see Ezra 2:44.
(l)7:52 Nephushesim is a variant of Nephusim; see Ezra 2:50.
(m)7:54 Bazlith is a variant of Bazluth; see Ezra 2:52.
(n)7:57 Perida is a variant of Peruda; see Ezra 2:55.
(o)7:59 Amon is a variant of Ami; see Ezra 2:57.
(p)7:61 Addon is a variant of Addan; see Ezra 2:59.
(q)7:65 Literally Lights and Perfections
(r)7:68 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include this verse.
(s)7:70 Or 1,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 18.5 pounds or 8.4 kilograms of gold coins
(t)7:71 Or 20,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 370.4 pounds or 168 kilograms of gold coins; also in verse 72
(u)7:71 Or 2,200 silver minas; that is, approximately 1.38 tons or 1.25 metric tons of silver
(v)7:72 Or 2,000 silver minas; that is, approximately 1.26 tons or 1.14 metric tons of silver
1
Now when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
2
I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many.
3
I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them; and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.”

The captives who returned to Jerusalem

(Ezra 2:1-67)
4
Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.
5
My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:
6
These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city,
7
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8
The children of Parosh: two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9
The children of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy-two.
10
The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.
11
The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12
The children of Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13
The children of Zattu: eight hundred forty-five.
14
The children of Zaccai: seven hundred sixty.
15
The children of Binnui: six hundred forty-eight.
16
The children of Bebai: six hundred twenty-eight.
17
The children of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18
The children of Adonikam: six hundred sixty-seven.
19
The children of Bigvai: two thousand sixty-seven.
20
The children of Adin: six hundred fifty-five.
21
The children of Ater: of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22
The children of Hashum: three hundred twenty-eight.
23
The children of Bezai: three hundred twenty-four.
24
The children of Hariph: one hundred twelve.
25
The children of Gibeon: ninety-five.
26
The men of Bethlehem and Netophah: one hundred eighty-eight.
27
The men of Anathoth: one hundred twenty-eight.
28
The men of Beth Azmaveth: forty-two.
29
The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty-three.
30
The men of Ramah and Geba: six hundred twenty-one.
31
The men of Michmas: one hundred twenty-two.
32
The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.
33
The men of the other Nebo: fifty-two.
34
The children of the other Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35
The children of Harim: three hundred twenty.
36
The children of Jericho: three hundred forty-five.
37
The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred twenty-one.
38
The children of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39
The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy-three.
40
The children of Immer: one thousand fifty-two.
41
The children of Pashhur: one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42
The children of Harim: one thousand seventeen.
43
The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah: seventy-four.
44
The singers: the children of Asaph: one hundred forty-eight.
45
The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai: one hundred thirty-eight.
46
The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47
the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48
the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
49
the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50
the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51
the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah,
52
the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
53
the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54
the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55
the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
56
the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.
57
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
58
the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59
the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the children of Amon.
60
All the temple servants and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.
61
These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring,(a) whether they were of Israel:
62
The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda: six hundred forty-two.
63
Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
64
These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
65
The governor told them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.
66
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
67
in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. They had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.
68
Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
69
their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
(Exodus 38:21-31; Ezra 2:68-70)
70
Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold,(b) fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments.
71
Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas (c) of silver.
72
That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, plus two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.
73
So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Footnotes

(a)7:61 or, seed
(b)7:70 a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.
(c)7:71 A mina is about 600 grams or 1.3 U. S. pounds, so 2,200 minas is about 1.3 metric tons.
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