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Census of First Returned Exiles

Now it happened when (A)the wall was rebuilt and I had made the doors to stand, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, that I commanded (B)Hanani my brother and (C)Hananiah the commander of (D)the fortress, to be over Jerusalem, for he was (E)a faithful man and feared God more than many. Then I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened until the sun is hot; and until they are there standing guard, they must shut and bolt the doors. Also have guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem stand, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.” Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not rebuilt.

(F)Then my God put it into my heart, and I gathered the nobles, the officials, and the people to be recorded by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first, and in it I found written:

(G)These are the [a]people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken away into exile, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, [b]Azariah, [c]Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, [d]Mispereth, Bigvai, [e]Nehum, Baanah.

The number of men of the people of Israel:

the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
10 the sons of Arah, 652;
11 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818;
12 the sons of Elam, 1,254;
13 the sons of Zattu, 845;
14 the sons of Zaccai, 760;
15 the sons of [f]Binnui, 648;
16 the sons of Bebai, 628;
17 the sons of Azgad, 2,322;
18 the sons of Adonikam, 667;
19 the sons of Bigvai, 2,067;
20 the sons of Adin, 655;
21 the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98;
22 the sons of Hashum, 328;
23 the sons of Bezai, 324;
24 the sons of [g]Hariph, 112;
25 the sons of [h]Gibeon, 95;
26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;
27 the men of Anathoth, 128;
28 the men of [i]Beth-azmaveth, 42;
29 the men of [j]Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
30 the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
31 the men of Michmas, 122;
32 the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
33 the men of the other Nebo, 52;
34 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;
35 the sons of Harim, 320;
36 the [k]men of Jericho, 345;
37 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721;
38 the sons of Senaah, 3,930.

39 The priests:

the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;
40 the sons of Immer, 1,052;
41 the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;
42 the sons of Harim, 1,017.

43 The Levites:

the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of [l]Hodevah, 74.

44 The singers:

the sons of Asaph, 148.

45 The gatekeepers:

the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.

46 The temple servants:

the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
47 the sons of Keros, the sons of [m]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 [n]Nephushesim,
53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54 the sons of [o]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, the sons of Hatipha.

57 The sons of Solomon’s servants:

the sons of Sotai, the sons of [p]Sophereth, the sons of [q]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, the sons of [r]Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.

61 Now these were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, [s]Addon, and Immer; but they were not able to declare their fathers’ houses or their fathers’ seed, whether they were of Israel:

62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642.

63 Of the priests:

the sons of [t]Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and he was called by their name.

64 These searched in their genealogical records, but it could not be found; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. 65 (H)And the [u]governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood with [v](I)Urim and Thummim.

The Assembly and Their Gifts

66 The whole assembly together was 42,360,
67 besides their male and their female slaves, [w]of whom there were 7,337;
and they had 245 male and female singers.
68 [x](J)Their horses were 736; their mules, 245;
69 their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.

70 Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The [y](K)governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold [z]drachmas, 50 bowls, 530 priests’ tunics. 71 Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver [aa]minas. 72 That which the rest of the people gave was 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests’ tunics.

73 So (L)the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities.

(M)Then the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in their cities.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 7:6 Lit sons
  2. Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Seraiah
  3. Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Reelaiah
  4. Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Mispar
  5. Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Rehum
  6. Nehemiah 7:15 In Ezra 2:10, Bani
  7. Nehemiah 7:24 In Ezra 2:18, Jorah
  8. Nehemiah 7:25 In Ezra 2:20, Gibbar
  9. Nehemiah 7:28 In Ezra 2:24, Azmaveth
  10. Nehemiah 7:29 In Ezra 2:25, Kiriath-arim
  11. Nehemiah 7:36 Lit sons
  12. Nehemiah 7:43 In Ezra 2:40, Hodaviah
  13. Nehemiah 7:47 In Ezra 2:44, Siaha
  14. Nehemiah 7:52 In Ezra 2:50, Nephisim
  15. Nehemiah 7:54 In Ezra 2:52, Bazluth
  16. Nehemiah 7:57 In Ezra 2:55, Hassophereth
  17. Nehemiah 7:57 In Ezra 2:55, Peruda
  18. Nehemiah 7:59 In Ezra 2:57, Ami
  19. Nehemiah 7:61 In Ezra 2:59, Addan
  20. Nehemiah 7:63 In Ezra 2:61, Habaiah
  21. Nehemiah 7:65 Heb Tirshatha, a Persian title
  22. Nehemiah 7:65 Lit the lights and perfections
  23. Nehemiah 7:67 Lit these
  24. Nehemiah 7:68 As in some ancient mss and Gr
  25. Nehemiah 7:70 Heb Tirshatha, a Persian title
  26. Nehemiah 7:70 A Greek silver coin, approx. a laborer’s daily wage
  27. Nehemiah 7:71 A mina was approx. 1.25 lb. or 0.6 kg

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hana′ni and Hanani′ah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they are still standing guard[a] let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each to his station and each opposite his own house.” The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built.

Lists of the Returned Exiles

Then God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnez′zar the king of Babylon had carried into exile; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. They came with Zerub′babel, Jeshua, Nehemi′ah, Azari′ah, Raami′ah, Naham′ani, Mor′decai, Bilshan, Mis′pereth, Big′vai, Nehum, Ba′anah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Shephati′ah, three hundred and seventy-two. 10 The sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two. 11 The sons of Pa′hath-mo′ab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Jo′ab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 12 The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four. 13 The sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five. 14 The sons of Zac′cai, seven hundred and sixty. 15 The sons of Bin′nui, six hundred and forty-eight. 16 The sons of Be′bai, six hundred and twenty-eight. 17 The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two. 18 The sons of Adoni′kam, six hundred and sixty-seven. 19 The sons of Big′vai, two thousand and sixty-seven. 20 The sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five. 21 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezeki′ah, ninety-eight. 22 The sons of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight. 23 The sons of Be′zai, three hundred and twenty-four. 24 The sons of Hariph, a hundred and twelve. 25 The sons of Gibeon, ninety-five. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Neto′phah, a hundred and eighty-eight. 27 The men of An′athoth, a hundred and twenty-eight. 28 The men of Beth-az′maveth, forty-two. 29 The men of Kir′iath-je′arim, Chephi′rah, and Be-er′oth, seven hundred and forty-three. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. 31 The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three. 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. 34 The sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four. 35 The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36 The sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. 37 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one. 38 The sons of Sena′ah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39 The priests: the sons of Jedai′ah, namely the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three. 40 The sons of Immer, a thousand and fifty-two. 41 The sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven. 42 The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kad′mi-el of the sons of Ho′devah, seventy-four. 44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight. 45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hati′ta, the sons of Sho′bai, a hundred and thirty-eight.

46 The temple servants:[b] the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasu′pha, the sons of Tabba′oth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Si′a, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Leba′na, the sons of Hag′aba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Re-ai′ah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Neko′da, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Pase′ah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Me-u′nim, the sons of Nephush′esim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Haku′pha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehi′da, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sis′era, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Nezi′ah, the sons of Hati′pha.

57 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of So′tai, the sons of So′phereth, the sons of Peri′da, 58 the sons of Ja′ala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephati′ah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Po′chereth-hazzeba′im, the sons of Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.

61 The following were those who came up from Tel-me′lah, Tel-har′sha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 62 the sons of Delai′ah, the sons of Tobi′ah, the sons of Neko′da, six hundred and forty-two. 63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobai′ah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzil′lai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzil′lai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean; 65 the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

66 The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their menservants and maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five singers, male and female. 68 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five,[c] 69 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and their asses six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

70 Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. 71 And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, 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 towns.

Ezra Summons the People to Obey the Law

And when the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their towns.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 7:3 Heb obscure
  2. Nehemiah 7:46 Heb nethinim
  3. Nehemiah 7:68 Ezra 2.66 and the margins of some Hebrew Mss: Heb lacks their horses . . . forty-five