The Exiles Return

When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed,(A) the gatekeepers,(B) singers, and Levites were appointed. Then I put my brother Hanani(C) in charge of Jerusalem,(D) along with Hananiah,(E) commander of the fortress,(F) because he was a faithful man who feared God(G) more than most. I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.”(H)

The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet.(I) Then my God put it into my mind(J) to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it:(K)

These are the people of the province who went up among the captive exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar(L) of Babylon. Each of them returned to Jerusalem and Judah, to his own town.(M) They came with Zerubbabel,(N) Jeshua,(O) Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The number of the Israelite men included[a]

Parosh’s descendants(P)2,172
Shephatiah’s descendants372
10 Arah’s descendants652
11 Pahath-moab’s descendants:
Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants2,818
12 Elam’s descendants1,254
13 Zattu’s descendants845
14 Zaccai’s descendants760
15 Binnui’s descendants648
16 Bebai’s descendants628
17 Azgad’s descendants2,322
18 Adonikam’s descendants(Q)667
19 Bigvai’s descendants2,067
20 Adin’s descendants(R)655
21 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah98
22 Hashum’s descendants328
23 Bezai’s descendants324
24 Hariph’s descendants112
25 Gibeon’s[b] descendants95
26 Bethlehem’s(S) and Netophah’s(T) men188
27 Anathoth’s(U) men128
28 Beth-azmaveth’s men42
29 Kiriath-jearim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s men743
30 Ramah’s and Geba’s men621
31 Michmas’s men122
32 Bethel’s and Ai’s men(V)123
33 the other Nebo’s men52
34 the other Elam’s people1,254
35 Harim’s people320
36 Jericho’s people(W)345
37 Lod’s,(X) Hadid’s, and Ono’s people721
38 Senaah’s people3,930.

39 The priests included

Jedaiah’s(Y) descendants of the house of Jeshua973
40 Immer’s descendants1,052
41 Pashhur’s descendants1,247
42 Harim’s descendants1,017.

43 The Levites(Z) included

Jeshua’s descendants: of Kadmiel
Hodevah’s descendants74.

44 The singers(AA) included

Asaph’s descendants148.

45 The gatekeepers(AB) included

Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants,
Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants,
Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants138.

46 The temple servants(AC) included

Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants,

Tabbaoth’s descendants, 47 Keros’s descendants,

Sia’s descendants, Padon’s descendants,

48 Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants,

Shalmai’s descendants, 49 Hanan’s descendants,

Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants,

50 Reaiah’s descendants, Rezin’s descendants,

Nekoda’s descendants, 51 Gazzam’s descendants,

Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants,

52 Besai’s descendants, Meunim’s descendants,

Nephishesim’s[c] descendants, 53 Bakbuk’s descendants,

Hakupha’s descendants, Harhur’s descendants,

54 Bazlith’s descendants, Mehida’s descendants,

Harsha’s descendants, 55 Barkos’s descendants,

Sisera’s descendants, Temah’s descendants,

56 Neziah’s descendants, Hatipha’s descendants.

57 The descendants of Solomon’s servants(AD) included

Sotai’s descendants, Sophereth’s descendants,

Perida’s descendants, 58 Jaala’s descendants,

Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants,

59 Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants,

Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, Amon’s descendants.

60 All the temple servants
and the descendants of Solomon’s servants(AE)392.

61 The following(AF) are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their ancestral families[d] and their lineage were Israelite:

62 Delaiah’s descendants,
Tobiah’s descendants,
and Nekoda’s descendants642

63 and from the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai—who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name. 64 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood. 65 The governor(AG) ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.(AH)

66 The whole combined assembly numbered42,360
67 not including their 7,337 male and female servants,
as well as their 245 male and female singers.
68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,[e]
69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.(AI)

70 Some of the family heads contributed to the project. The governor gave 1,000 gold coins,[f] 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments to the treasury. 71 Some of the family heads gave 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 silver minas to the treasury for the project. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments. 73 The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple singers, some of the people, temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.(AJ)

Public Reading of the Law

When the seventh month(AK) came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

Footnotes

  1. 7:7 Lit the men of the people of Israel
  2. 7:25 = Gibbar’s in Ezr 2:20
  3. 7:52 Alt Hb tradition reads Nephushesim’s
  4. 7:61 Lit the house of their fathers
  5. 7:68 Some Hb mss, LXX; Ezr 2:66; other Hb mss omit v. 68
  6. 7:70 Or drachmas, or darics; also in vv. 71,72

Now when the wall had been built and I had erected the doors and appointed the gatekeepers, singers, and the Levites, I gave command over Jerusalem to my brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the citadel. For he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While they are standing guard let them shut and fasten the doors. And appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his post and another opposite his house.” The city was widespread and large, but the people in it were few and no houses were rebuilt.

Lists of the Exiles Who Returned

Then my God put into my heart to assemble the nobles, the prefects, and the people to be enrolled. I found the book of the genealogy of those who first came back, and I found this written upon it:

These are the people of the province who came up from captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each one to his city. These came with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: the descendants[a] of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two. The descendants[b] of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two. 10 The descendants[c] of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two. 11 The descendants[d] of Pahath-Moab, of the descendants[e] of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 12 The descendants[f] of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. 13 The descendants[g] of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five. 14 The descendants[h] of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty. 15 The descendants[i] of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight. 16 The descendants[j] of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight. 17 The descendants[k] of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two. 18 The descendants[l] of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven. 19 The descendants[m] of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven. 20 The descendants[n] of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five. 21 The descendants[o] of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. 22 The descendants[p] of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight. 23 The descendants[q] of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four. 24 The descendants[r] of Hariph, one hundred and twelve. 25 The descendants[s] of Gibeon, ninety-five. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight. 27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two. 29 The men of Kiriath-Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. 31 The men of Micmash, one hundred and twenty-two. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three. 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. 34 The people[t] of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. 35 The people[u] of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36 The people[v] of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. 37 The people[w] of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one. 38 The people[x] of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39 The priests: The descendants[y] of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three. 40 The descendants[z] of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two. 41 The descendants[aa] of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven. 42 The descendants[ab] of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

43 The Levites: the descendants[ac] of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the descendants[ad] of Hodaviah, seventy-four. 44 The singers: the descendants[ae] of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight. 45 The gatekeepers: the descendants[af] of Shallum, the descendants[ag] of Ater, the descendants[ah] of Talmon, the descendants[ai] of Akkub, the descendants[aj] of Hatita, the descendants[ak] of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.

46 The temple servants: the descendants[al] of Ziha, the descendants[am] of Hasupha, the descendants[an] of Tabbaoth, 47 the descendants[ao] of Keros, the descendants[ap] of Siaha, the descendants[aq] of Padon, 48 the descendants[ar] of Lebanah, the descendants[as] of Hagaba, the descendants[at] of Shalmai, 49 the descendants[au] of Hanan, the descendants[av] of Giddel, the descendants[aw] of Gahar, 50 the descendants[ax] of Reaiah, the descendants[ay] of Rezin, the descendants[az] of Nekoda, 51 the descendants[ba] of Gazzam, the descendants[bb] of Uzza, the descendants[bc] of Paseah, 52 the descendants[bd] of Besai, the descendants[be] of Meunim, the descendants[bf] of Nephushesim, 53 the descendants[bg] of Bakbuk, the descendants[bh] of Hakupha, the descendants[bi] of Harhur, 54 the descendants[bj] of Bazlith, the descendants[bk] of Mehida, the descendants[bl] of Harsha, 55 the descendants[bm] of Barkos, the descendants[bn] of Sisera, the descendants[bo] of Temah, 56 the descendants[bp] of Neziah, the descendants[bq] of Hatipha.

57 The descendants[br] of Solomon’s servants: the descendants[bs] of Sotai, the descendants[bt] of Sophereth, the descendants[bu] of Perida, 58 the descendants[bv] of Jaala, the descendants[bw] of Darkon, the descendants[bx] of Giddel, 59 the descendants[by] of Shephatiah, the descendants[bz] of Hattil, the descendants[ca] of Pochereth-Hazzebaim, the descendants[cb] of Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the descendants[cc] of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.

61 These were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they were not able to prove their ancestral houses or their descent, whether they were from Israel: 62 the descendants[cd] of Delaiah, the descendants[ce] of Tobiah, the descendants[cf] of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. 63 And from the priests: the descendants[cg] of Hobaiah, the descendants[ch] of Hakkoz, the descendants[ci] of Barzillai (who had taken as a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64 These sought their record among those enrolled in the genealogy, but it was not found there, so they were excluded as unclean from the priesthood. 65 So the governor said to them that they could not eat the most holy food until a priest could come with Urim and Thummim.

66 All of the assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their servants and female slaves—these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And the male and female singers were two hundred and forty-five,[cj] 69 [ck] there were four hundred and thirty-five camels and six thousand seven hundred and twenty male donkeys.

70 Now some from the heads of the families[cl] gave to the work. The governor gave to the storehouse one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priestly tunics. 71 Now some of the heads of the families[cm] gave to the storehouse of the work twenty thousand gold darics and two thousand two hundred silver minas. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand silver minas, and sixty-seven priestly tunics.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their cities. When the seventh month came, the Israelites[cn] were in their cities.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 7:8 Or “sons”
  2. Nehemiah 7:9 Or “sons”
  3. Nehemiah 7:10 Or “sons”
  4. Nehemiah 7:11 Or “sons”
  5. Nehemiah 7:11 Or “sons”
  6. Nehemiah 7:12 Or “sons”
  7. Nehemiah 7:13 Or “sons”
  8. Nehemiah 7:14 Or “sons”
  9. Nehemiah 7:15 Or “sons”
  10. Nehemiah 7:16 Or “sons”
  11. Nehemiah 7:17 Or “sons”
  12. Nehemiah 7:18 Or “sons”
  13. Nehemiah 7:19 Or “sons”
  14. Nehemiah 7:20 Or “sons”
  15. Nehemiah 7:21 Or “sons”
  16. Nehemiah 7:22 Or “sons”
  17. Nehemiah 7:23 Or “sons”
  18. Nehemiah 7:24 Or “sons”
  19. Nehemiah 7:25 Or “sons”
  20. Nehemiah 7:34 Or “sons”
  21. Nehemiah 7:35 Or “sons”
  22. Nehemiah 7:36 Or “sons”
  23. Nehemiah 7:37 Or “sons”
  24. Nehemiah 7:38 Or “sons”
  25. Nehemiah 7:39 Or “sons”
  26. Nehemiah 7:40 Or “sons”
  27. Nehemiah 7:41 Or “sons”
  28. Nehemiah 7:42 Or “sons”
  29. Nehemiah 7:43 Or “sons”
  30. Nehemiah 7:43 Or “sons”
  31. Nehemiah 7:44 Or “sons”
  32. Nehemiah 7:45 Or “sons”
  33. Nehemiah 7:45 Or “sons”
  34. Nehemiah 7:45 Or “sons”
  35. Nehemiah 7:45 Or “sons”
  36. Nehemiah 7:45 Or “sons”
  37. Nehemiah 7:45 Or “sons”
  38. Nehemiah 7:46 Or “sons”
  39. Nehemiah 7:46 Or “sons”
  40. Nehemiah 7:46 Or “sons”
  41. Nehemiah 7:47 Or “sons”
  42. Nehemiah 7:47 Or “sons”
  43. Nehemiah 7:47 Or “sons”
  44. Nehemiah 7:48 Or “sons”
  45. Nehemiah 7:48 Or “sons”
  46. Nehemiah 7:48 Or “sons”
  47. Nehemiah 7:49 Or “sons”
  48. Nehemiah 7:49 Or “sons”
  49. Nehemiah 7:49 Or “sons”
  50. Nehemiah 7:50 Or “sons”
  51. Nehemiah 7:50 Or “sons”
  52. Nehemiah 7:50 Or “sons”
  53. Nehemiah 7:51 Or “sons”
  54. Nehemiah 7:51 Or “sons”
  55. Nehemiah 7:51 Or “sons”
  56. Nehemiah 7:52 Or “sons”
  57. Nehemiah 7:52 Or “sons”
  58. Nehemiah 7:52 Or “sons”
  59. Nehemiah 7:53 Or “sons”
  60. Nehemiah 7:53 Or “sons”
  61. Nehemiah 7:53 Or “sons”
  62. Nehemiah 7:54 Or “sons”
  63. Nehemiah 7:54 Or “sons”
  64. Nehemiah 7:54 Or “sons”
  65. Nehemiah 7:55 Or “sons”
  66. Nehemiah 7:55 Or “sons”
  67. Nehemiah 7:55 Or “sons”
  68. Nehemiah 7:56 Or “sons”
  69. Nehemiah 7:56 Or “sons”
  70. Nehemiah 7:57 Or “sons”
  71. Nehemiah 7:57 Or “sons”
  72. Nehemiah 7:57 Or “sons”
  73. Nehemiah 7:57 Or “sons”
  74. Nehemiah 7:58 Or “sons”
  75. Nehemiah 7:58 Or “sons”
  76. Nehemiah 7:58 Or “sons”
  77. Nehemiah 7:59 Or “sons”
  78. Nehemiah 7:59 Or “sons”
  79. Nehemiah 7:59 Or “sons”
  80. Nehemiah 7:59 Or “sons”
  81. Nehemiah 7:60 Or “sons”
  82. Nehemiah 7:62 Or “sons”
  83. Nehemiah 7:62 Or “sons”
  84. Nehemiah 7:62 Or “sons”
  85. Nehemiah 7:63 Or “sons”
  86. Nehemiah 7:63 Or “sons”
  87. Nehemiah 7:63 Or “sons”
  88. Nehemiah 7:67 After this verse, some versions add verse 68: “Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six; their mules two hundred and forty-five”; compare Ezra 2:66
  89. Nehemiah 7:69 Nehemiah 7:69–73 in the English Bible is 7:68–72 in the Hebrew Bible
  90. Nehemiah 7:70 Literally “fathers”
  91. Nehemiah 7:71 Literally “fathers”
  92. Nehemiah 7:73 Literally “sons/children of Israel”