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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”

The wall is complete

When the wall had been built and I had hung the doors, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. Then I put my brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the fortress in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was a faithful man who revered God more than many.

I[a] said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem aren’t to be opened during the hottest time of the day. While the gatekeepers[b] are still on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Also, appoint guards from among those who live in Jerusalem. Station some at their watch posts and some in front of their own houses.”

Nehemiah registers the families

Now although the city was wide and large, only a few people were living within it, and no[c] houses had been rebuilt. My God then prompted me to assemble the officials, the officers, and the people so that they could be registered by families. I found the record of the families who were the first to return, and I found the following written in it:

These are the people of the province who returned from the captivity of those exiles whom Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile. They all returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to their own town.

They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The number of the people of Israel:

The family of Parosh2,172
of Shephatiah372
10 of Arah652
11 of Pahath-moab, that is, of the descendants of Jeshua and Joab2,818
12 of Elam1,254
13 of Zattu845
14 of Zaccai760
15 of Binnui648
16 of Bebai628
17 of Azgad2,322
18 of Adonikam667
19 of Bigvai2,067
20 of Adin655
21 of Ater, that is, of the descendants of Hezekiah98
22 of Hashum328
23 of Bezai324
24 of Hariph112
25 of Gibeon95
26 The people of Bethlehem and Netophah188
27 of Anathoth128
28 of Beth-azmaveth42
29 of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth743
30 of Ramah and Geba621
31 of Michmas122
32 of Bethel and Ai123
33 of the other Nebo52
34 the inhabitants of the other Elam1,254
35 of Harim320
36 of Jericho345
37 of Lod, Hadid, and Ono721
38 of Senaah3,930
39 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah, that is, of the house of Jeshua973
40 of Immer1,052
41 of Pashhur1,247
42 of Harim1,017
43 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua, that is, of Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodaviah74
44 The singers: the descendants of Asaph148
45 The descendants of gatekeepers: of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai138

46 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Sia, Padon,
48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai,
49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,
50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,
51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,
52 Besai, Meunim, Nephushesim,
53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
54 Bazlith, Mehida, Harsha,
55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
56 Neziah, and Hatipha.

57 The descendants of Solomon’s servants: Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Amon.

60 All of the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.

61 The following came up from Tel-Melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their family or their descent was from Israel:

62 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 642.

63 And of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by his[d] name) 64 looked for their entries in the genealogical records, but they weren’t found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

65 The governor ordered that they shouldn’t eat of the most holy food until a priest arose who could consult Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole assembly together totaled 42,360. 67 This number doesn’t include their 7,337 male and female servants; they also had 245 male and female singers, 68 736 horses, 245 mules,[e] 69 [f] 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

70 [g] Some of the heads of families made a donation for the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly robes. 71 Some of the heads of families gave 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 manehs of silver to the treasury for the work. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 manehs of silver, and 67 priestly robes.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 7:3 Or He
  2. Nehemiah 7:3 Or while they
  3. Nehemiah 7:4 Or not enough
  4. Nehemiah 7:63 Or their
  5. Nehemiah 7:68 Ezra 2:66; MT lacks they also…mules.
  6. Nehemiah 7:69 7:68 in Heb
  7. Nehemiah 7:70 7:69 in Heb