Nehemiah 7
New Living Translation
7 After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in the gates, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. 2 I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3 I said to them, “Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day.[a] And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.”
Nehemiah Registers the People
4 At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt. 5 So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there:
6 Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived. 7 Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,[b] Reelaiah,[c] Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar,[d] Bigvai, Rehum,[e] and Baanah.
This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile:
| 8 The family of Parosh | 2,172 |
| 9 The family of Shephatiah | 372 |
| 10 The family of Arah | 652 |
| 11 The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) | 2,818 |
| 12 The family of Elam | 1,254 |
| 13 The family of Zattu | 845 |
| 14 The family of Zaccai | 760 |
| 15 The family of Bani[f] | 648 |
| 16 The family of Bebai | 628 |
| 17 The family of Azgad | 2,322 |
| 18 The family of Adonikam | 667 |
| 19 The family of Bigvai | 2,067 |
| 20 The family of Adin | 655 |
| 21 The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) | 98 |
| 22 The family of Hashum | 328 |
| 23 The family of Bezai | 324 |
| 24 The family of Jorah[g] | 112 |
| 25 The family of Gibbar[h] | 95 |
| 26 The people of Bethlehem and Netophah | 188 |
| 27 The people of Anathoth | 128 |
| 28 The people of Beth-azmaveth | 42 |
| 29 The people of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth | 743 |
| 30 The people of Ramah and Geba | 621 |
| 31 The people of Micmash | 122 |
| 32 The people of Bethel and Ai | 123 |
| 33 The people of West Nebo[i] | 52 |
| 34 The citizens of West Elam[j] | 1,254 |
| 35 The citizens of Harim | 320 |
| 36 The citizens of Jericho | 345 |
| 37 The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono | 721 |
| 38 The citizens of Senaah | 3,930 |
39 These are the priests who returned from exile:
| The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) | 973 |
| 40 The family of Immer | 1,052 |
| 41 The family of Pashhur | 1,247 |
| 42 The family of Harim | 1,017 |
43 These are the Levites who returned from exile:
| The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah[k]) | 74 |
| 44 The singers of the family of Asaph | 148 |
| 45 The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai | 138 |
46 The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile:
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
47 Keros, Siaha,[l] Padon,
48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai,
49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,
50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,
51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,
52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,[m]
53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
54 Bazluth,[n] Mehida, Harsha,
55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
56 Neziah, and Hatipha.
57 The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile:
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,[o]
58 Jaalah,[p] Darkon, Giddel,
59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.[q]
60 In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants numbered 392.
61 Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan,[r] and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel. 62 This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda—a total of 642 people.
63 Three families of priests—Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai—also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.) 64 They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests. 65 The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.
66 So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah, 67 in addition to 7,337 servants and 245 singers, both men and women. 68 They took with them 736 horses, 245 mules,[s] 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some of the family leaders gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold coins,[t] 50 gold basins, and 530 robes for the priests. 71 The other leaders gave to the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins[u] and some 2,750 pounds[v] of silver for the work. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, about 2,500 pounds[w] of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.
73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel.
Ezra Reads the Law
In October,[x] when the Israelites had settled in their towns,
Footnotes
- 7:3 Or Keep the gates of Jerusalem closed until the sun is hot.
- 7:7a As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2; Hebrew reads Azariah.
- 7:7b As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2; Hebrew reads Raamiah.
- 7:7c As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2; Hebrew reads Mispereth.
- 7:7d As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2; Hebrew reads Nehum.
- 7:15 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:10; Hebrew reads Binnui.
- 7:24 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:18; Hebrew reads Hariph.
- 7:25 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:20; Hebrew reads Gibeon.
- 7:33 Or of the other Nebo.
- 7:34 Or of the other Elam.
- 7:43 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:40; Hebrew reads Hodevah.
- 7:47 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:44; Hebrew reads Sia.
- 7:52 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:50; Hebrew reads Nephushesim.
- 7:54 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:52; Hebrew reads Bazlith.
- 7:57 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:55; Hebrew reads Sotai, Sophereth, Perida.
- 7:58 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:56; Hebrew reads Jaala.
- 7:59 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:57; Hebrew reads Amon.
- 7:61 As in parallel text at Ezra 2:59; Hebrew reads Addon.
- 7:68 As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts lack this verse. Verses 7:69-73 are numbered 7:68-72 in Hebrew text.
- 7:70 Hebrew 1,000 darics of gold, about 19 pounds or 8.6 kilograms in weight.
- 7:71a Hebrew 20,000 darics of gold, about 375 pounds or 170 kilograms in weight; also in 7:72.
- 7:71b Hebrew 2,200 minas [1,300 kilograms].
- 7:72 Hebrew 2,000 minas [1,200 kilograms].
- 7:73 Hebrew In the seventh month. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of October and November 445 B.c.
Nehemiah 7
Legacy Standard Bible
Census of First Returned Exiles
7 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, 2 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. 3 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.” 4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not rebuilt.
5 (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:
6 (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, 7 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:
8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
9 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
- Nehemiah 7:6 Lit sons
- Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Seraiah
- Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Reelaiah
- Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Mispar
- Nehemiah 7:7 In Ezra 2:2, Rehum
- Nehemiah 7:15 In Ezra 2:10, Bani
- Nehemiah 7:24 In Ezra 2:18, Jorah
- Nehemiah 7:25 In Ezra 2:20, Gibbar
- Nehemiah 7:28 In Ezra 2:24, Azmaveth
- Nehemiah 7:29 In Ezra 2:25, Kiriath-arim
- Nehemiah 7:36 Lit sons
- Nehemiah 7:43 In Ezra 2:40, Hodaviah
- Nehemiah 7:47 In Ezra 2:44, Siaha
- Nehemiah 7:52 In Ezra 2:50, Nephisim
- Nehemiah 7:54 In Ezra 2:52, Bazluth
- Nehemiah 7:57 In Ezra 2:55, Hassophereth
- Nehemiah 7:57 In Ezra 2:55, Peruda
- Nehemiah 7:59 In Ezra 2:57, Ami
- Nehemiah 7:61 In Ezra 2:59, Addan
- Nehemiah 7:63 In Ezra 2:61, Habaiah
- Nehemiah 7:65 Heb Tirshatha, a Persian title
- Nehemiah 7:65 Lit the lights and perfections
- Nehemiah 7:67 Lit these
- Nehemiah 7:68 As in some ancient mss and Gr
- Nehemiah 7:70 Heb Tirshatha, a Persian title
- Nehemiah 7:70 A Greek silver coin, approx. a laborer’s daily wage
- Nehemiah 7:71 A mina was approx. 1.25 lb. or 0.6 kg
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