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Nehemiah 5:14-7:73
New Life Version
Nehemiah 5:14-7:73
New Life Version
Nehemiah Does Not Think of Himself
14 Also, in the twelve years after I was chosen to be their ruler in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, I and my brothers did not eat the food allowed to the ruler. 15 The rulers who were before me made the people work very hard. They took bread and wine from them, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their servants ruled over the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God. 16 I also worked on this wall myself, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Also, there were 150 Jews and leaders at my table, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 One bull, six of the best sheep, and birds were made ready for me each day. All kinds of wine were brought in every ten days. Yet for all this I did not make them give me the food allowed to me as ruler, because the work was very hard for these people. 19 O my God, remember me for good for all I have done for these people.
Neighbors Do Not Want the Wall Built
6 It was told to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of those who hated us that I had built the wall again. They were told that the wall had no more open places, but I had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to hurt or kill me. 3 So I sent men with word to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 They sent word to me four times in this way, and I gave them the same answer. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way for a fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is said among the nations, and Gashmu says that you and the Jews are planning to turn against the king. This is why you are building the wall again. It is said that you wish to be their king. 7 You have also chosen men who tell what will happen to speak to the people in Jerusalem about you, saying, ‘A king is in Judah!’ Now this will be told to the king. So come now, let us meet to speak with each other.” 8 Then I sent word to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done. You are making them up in your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to make us afraid, thinking, “Their hands will become weak and the work will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
10 When I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was at home said, “Let us meet together inside the house of God, and close the doors of the Lord’s house for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? And could a man such as I go into the house of God to save his life? I will not go in.” 12 Then I understood that God had not sent him. He had spoken these words against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to do it. 13 He had been paid to try to make me afraid and to do as he said and sin, so they would have sinful things to say about me and put me to shame. 14 O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat by these works of theirs. And remember Noadiah and the rest of the men who tell what will happen who were trying to make me afraid.
The Wall Is Finished
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all those who hated us heard about it, all the nations around us were afraid and troubled. For they saw that this work had been done with the help of our God. 17 In those days the rulers of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were joined by promise to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah. And his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah. 19 Also they spoke about Tobiah’s good works in front of me, and told my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
7 When the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gate-keepers and singers and Levites were chosen, 2 I gave my brother Hanani, and Hanaiah the captain of the strong place, the work of watching over Jerusalem. For he was a faithful man and honored God with fear more than many. 3 I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while the soldiers are on duty watching the gates, let them shut and lock the doors. Choose soldiers from the people of Jerusalem, each one for the place he is to keep watch, and each in front of his own house.”
The Jews Return to Jerusalem
4 Now the city was wide and large, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built. 5 Then my God put it into my heart to gather together the rulers, the leaders and the people to have their names written down by families. And I found the book of the family names of those who came up first. This is what I found written in it: 6 These are the people who left the land of Babylon and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. Their families had been taken away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. 7 These people returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of Israel: 8 2,172 sons of Parosh, 9 372 sons of Shephatiah, 10 652 sons of Arah, 11 2,818 sons of Pahath-moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 12 1,254 sons of Elam, 13 845 sons of Zattu, 14 760 sons of Zaccai, 15 648 sons of Binnui, 16 628 sons of Bebai, 17 2,322 sons of Azgad, 18 667 sons of Adonikam, 19 2,067 sons of Bigvai, 20 655 sons of Adin, 21 98 sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 22 328 sons of Hashum, 23 324 sons of Bezai, 24 112 sons of Hariph, 25 95 sons of Gibeon, 26 188 sons of Bethlehem and Netophah, 27 128 sons of Anathoth, 28 42 sons of Beth-azmaveth, 29 743 sons of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 30 621 sons of Ramah and Geba, 31 122 sons of Michmas, 32 123 sons of Bethel and Ai, 33 52 sons of the other Nebo, 34 1,254 sons of the other Elam, 35 320 sons of Harim, 36 345 sons of Jericho, 37 721 sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 38 and 3,930 sons of Senaah.
39 The religious leaders: 973 sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 40 1,052 sons of Immer, 41 1,247 sons of Pashhur, 42 1,017 sons of Harim.
43 The Levites: 74 sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah. 44 The singers: 148 sons of Asaph. 45 The gate-keepers: 138 sons of Shallum, of Ater, of Talmon, of Akkub, of Hatita, and of Shobai.
46 The servants of the house of God: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
57 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Amon. 60 All the servants in the house of God and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.
61 Now these were the men who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they were not able to prove their fathers’ houses or that they were children of Israel: 62 642 sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. 63 And the sons of the religious leaders: the sons of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name. 64 These men looked for their names among the names of all the families, but could not find them. So they were thought of as being unclean, and were not allowed to work as religious leaders. 65 And the leader told them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a religious leader learned God’s will by the Urim and Thummin.
66 There were 42,360 people in all, 67 besides the 7,337 men and women servants, and 245 singing men and women. 68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some from among the heads of the family groups gave to the work. The ruler gave 1,000 gold pieces, fifty deep dishes, and 530 sets of clothing for the religious leaders. 71 And some of the leaders of family groups gave 20,000 gold pieces and 2,200 silver pieces. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold pieces, 2,000 silver pieces, and 67 sets of clothing for the religious leaders.
73 Now the religious leaders, the Levites, the gate-keepers, the singers, some of the people, the servants in the house of the Lord, and all Israel, lived in their cities.
When the seventh month had come, the sons of Israel were in their cities.
Nehemiah 5:14-7:73
New International Version
Nehemiah 5:14-7:73
New International Version
14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(A) when I was appointed to be their governor(B) in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God(C) I did not act like that. 16 Instead,(D) I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we[b] did not acquire any land.
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry(E) were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.
19 Remember(F) me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Further Opposition to the Rebuilding
6 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah,(G) Geshem(H) the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[c] on the plain of Ono.(I)”
But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
5 Then, the fifth time, Sanballat(J) sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6 in which was written:
“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[d](K) says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”
8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple(L), and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”
11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me(M) because Tobiah and Sanballat(N) had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.(O)
14 Remember(P) Tobiah and Sanballat,(Q) my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet(R) Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets(S) have been trying to intimidate me. 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Opposition to the Completed Wall
16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
7 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers,(T) the musicians(U) and the Levites(V) were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani,(W) along with Hananiah(X) the commander of the citadel,(Y) because he was a man of integrity and feared(Z) God more than most people do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
The List of the Exiles Who Returned(AA)
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it,(AB) and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:
6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles(AC) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 7 in company with Zerubbabel,(AD) Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of Israel:
| 8 the descendants of Parosh | 2,172 |
| 9 of Shephatiah | 372 |
| 10 of Arah | 652 |
| 11 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) | 2,818 |
| 12 of Elam | 1,254 |
| 13 of Zattu | 845 |
| 14 of Zakkai | 760 |
| 15 of Binnui | 648 |
| 16 of Bebai | 628 |
| 17 of Azgad | 2,322 |
| 18 of Adonikam | 667 |
| 19 of Bigvai | 2,067 |
| 20 of Adin(AE) | 655 |
| 21 of Ater (through Hezekiah) | 98 |
| 22 of Hashum | 328 |
| 23 of Bezai | 324 |
| 24 of Hariph | 112 |
| 25 of Gibeon | 95 |
| 26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah(AF) | 188 |
| 27 of Anathoth(AG) | 128 |
| 28 of Beth Azmaveth | 42 |
| 29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah(AH) and Beeroth(AI) | 743 |
| 30 of Ramah and Geba | 621 |
| 31 of Mikmash | 122 |
| 32 of Bethel and Ai(AJ) | 123 |
| 33 of the other Nebo | 52 |
| 34 of the other Elam | 1,254 |
| 35 of Harim | 320 |
| 36 of Jericho(AK) | 345 |
| 37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono(AL) | 721 |
| 38 of Senaah | 3,930 |
39 The priests:
| the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
| 40 of Immer | 1,052 |
| 41 of Pashhur | 1,247 |
| 42 of Harim | 1,017 |
43 The Levites:
| the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) | 74 |
44 The musicians:(AM)
| the descendants of Asaph | 148 |
45 The gatekeepers:(AN)
| the descendants of | |
| Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai | 138 |
46 The temple servants:(AO)
| the descendants of |
| Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, |
| 47 Keros, Sia, Padon, |
| 48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, |
| 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, |
| 50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, |
| 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, |
| 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim, |
| 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, |
| 54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, |
| 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, |
| 56 Neziah and Hatipha |
57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
| the descendants of |
| Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, |
| 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, |
| 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, |
| Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon |
| 60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon(AP) | 392 |
61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:
| 62 the descendants of | |
| Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda | 642 |
63 And from among the priests:
| the descendants of |
| Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). |
64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(AQ)
66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[e] 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[f] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families(AR) gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[g] of gold and 2,200 minas[h] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[i] of silver and 67 garments for priests.(AS)
73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants,(AT) along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.(AU)
Ezra Reads the Law
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,(AV)
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 5:15 That is, about 1 pound or about 460 grams
- Nehemiah 5:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac I
- Nehemiah 6:2 Or in Kephirim
- Nehemiah 6:6 Hebrew Gashmu, a variant of Geshem
- Nehemiah 7:68 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have this verse.
- Nehemiah 7:70 That is, about 19 pounds or about 8.4 kilograms
- Nehemiah 7:71 That is, about 375 pounds or about 170 kilograms; also in verse 72
- Nehemiah 7:71 That is, about 1 1/3 tons or about 1.2 metric tons
- Nehemiah 7:72 That is, about 1 1/4 tons or about 1.1 metric tons
New Life Version (NLV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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