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Now when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.”

Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:

These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city, who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel:

The children of Parosh: two thousand one hundred seventy-two.

The children of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy-two.

10 The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.

11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand eight hundred eighteen.

12 The children of Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.

13 The children of Zattu: eight hundred forty-five.

14 The children of Zaccai: seven hundred sixty.

15 The children of Binnui: six hundred forty-eight.

16 The children of Bebai: six hundred twenty-eight.

17 The children of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty-two.

18 The children of Adonikam: six hundred sixty-seven.

19 The children of Bigvai: two thousand sixty-seven.

20 The children of Adin: six hundred fifty-five.

21 The children of Ater: of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.

22 The children of Hashum: three hundred twenty-eight.

23 The children of Bezai: three hundred twenty-four.

24 The children of Hariph: one hundred twelve.

25 The children of Gibeon: ninety-five.

26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah: one hundred eighty-eight.

27 The men of Anathoth: one hundred twenty-eight.

28 The men of Beth Azmaveth: forty-two.

29 The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty-three.

30 The men of Ramah and Geba: six hundred twenty-one.

31 The men of Michmas: one hundred twenty-two.

32 The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.

33 The men of the other Nebo: fifty-two.

34 The children of the other Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.

35 The children of Harim: three hundred twenty.

36 The children of Jericho: three hundred forty-five.

37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred twenty-one.

38 The children of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred thirty.

39 The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy-three.

40 The children of Immer: one thousand fifty-two.

41 The children of Pashhur: one thousand two hundred forty-seven.

42 The children of Harim: one thousand seventeen.

43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah: seventy-four.

44 The singers: the children of Asaph: one hundred forty-eight.

45 The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai: one hundred thirty-eight.

46 The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47 the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48 the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 49 the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50 the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, 52 the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, 53 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54 the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 56 the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.

57 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the children of Amon. 60 All the temple servants and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.

61 These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring,[a] whether they were of Israel:

62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda: six hundred forty-two.

63 Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

64 These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood. 65 The governor told them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 67 in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. They had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. 68 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; 69 their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.

70 Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold,[b] fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments. 71 Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas[c] of silver. 72 That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, plus 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 cities.

When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Footnotes

  1. 7:61 or, seed
  2. 7:70 a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.
  3. 7:71 A mina is about 600 grams or 1.3 U. S. pounds, so 2,200 minas is about 1.3 metric tons.

Nehemiah Appoints Administrators

After the wall had been completed and its doors installed, then the gatekeepers, singers, and descendants of Levi were appointed. I appointed my brother Hanani and fortress commander Hananiah to be over Jerusalem, since he was a faithful person who revered God more than many others did. I charged them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until mid-day.[a] Until then, let everyone stand watch, keeping the gates shut and locked. Appoint security watches from those who live in Jerusalem. Everyone should maintain his own watch near his house.” Even though the city was large and spread out, not many people were living there and not many houses had been built. So my God gave me the idea to gather together the nobles, the officials, and the people so they could be registered according to their genealogies.

A List of Those who Returned(A)

I found a register of the original inhabitants in which there was recorded a list of descendants[b] of the province of Judah[c] who returned from captivity, from those who had been exiled by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They had come back to Jerusalem and to Judah, each one to his town. They were coming with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,[d] Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth,[e] Bigvai, Nehum,[f] and Baanah. Here is the enumeration of:

The Men of Israel:

Parosh’s descendants:[g] 2,172

Shephatiah’s descendants: 372

10 Arah’s descendants: 652[h]

11 Pahath-moab’s descendants; that is, through Jeshua and Joab: 2,818[i]

12 Elam’s descendants: 1,254

13 Zattu’s descendants: 845[j]

14 Zaccai’s descendants: 760

15 Binnui’s descendants:[k] 648[l]

16 Bebai’s descendants: 628[m]

17 Azgad’s descendants: 2,322[n]

18 Adonikam’s descendants: 667[o]

19 Bigvai’s descendants: 2,067[p]

20 Adin’s descendants: 655[q]

21 Ater’s descendants through Hezekiah: 98

22 Hashum’s descendants: 328[r]

23 Bezai’s descendants: 324[s]

24 Hariph’s descendants:[t] 112

25 Gibeon’s descendants:[u] 95

26 People from Bethlehem and Netophah: 188[v]

27 People from Anathoth: 128

28 People from Beth-azmaveth:[w] 42

29 People from Kiriath-jearim,[x] Chephirah, and Beeroth: 743

30 People from Ramah and Geba: 621

31 People from Michmas: 122

32 People from Bethel and Ai: 123[y]

33 People from the other Nebo: 52

34 The other Elam’s descendants: 1,254

35 Harim’s descendants: 320

36 Jericho’s descendants: 345

37 Descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 721[z]

38 Senaah’s descendants: 3,930[aa]

39 The Priests:

Jedaiah’s descendants from the household of Jeshua: 973

40 Immer’s descendants: 1,052

41 Pashhur’s descendants: 1,247

42 Harim’s descendants: 1,017

43 The Descendants of Levi:

Jeshua of Kadmiel’s descendants: that is, Hodevah’s descendants:[ab] 74

44 The Singers:

Asaph’s descendants: 148[ac]

45 The Gatekeepers:

Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants, Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants, Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants: 138[ad]

46 The Temple Servants:

Descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, and Tabbaoth.

47 Descendants of Keros, Sia,[ae] and Padon.

48 Descendants of Lebanah, Hagabah, and Shalmai.[af]

49 Descendants of Hanan, Giddel, and Gahar.

50 Descendants of Reaiah, Rezin, and Nekoda.

51 Descendants of Gazzam, Uzza, and Paseah.

52 Descendants of Besai,[ag] Meunim, and Nephushesim,[ah]

53 Descendants of Bakbuk, Hakupha, and Harhur.

54 Descendants of Bazlith,[ai] Mehida, and Harsha.

55 Descendants of Barkos, Sisera, and Temah.

56 Descendants of Neziah and Hatipha.

57 The Descendants of Solomon’s Servants:

Descendants of Sotai, Sophereth,[aj] and Perida,[ak]

58 Descendants of Jaala, Darkon, and Giddel,

59 Descendants of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ammon;[al]

60 All of the Temple Servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants numbered 392.

Non-Documented Persons(B)

61 Here is a list of returnees from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, who could not prove their ancestry and lineage from Israel:

62 Descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda: 642[am]

63 Of the Priests:

Descendants of Habaiah, Koz,[an] and Barzillai, who married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that name.

64 These people searched for their ancestral records, but they couldn’t be located. Accordingly, they were considered disqualified[ao] from the priesthood. 65 The governor[ap] ordered them not to eat anything holy until a priest would be installed with Urim and Thummim.[aq]

66 The entire assembly numbered 42,360, 67 not including their 7,337 male and female servants. They had 245[ar] men and women singers. 68 [as]They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Gifts for the Temple(C)

70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor[at] contributed 1,000 gold drachmas to the treasury, along with 50 basins, and 530 priestly garments. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver units[au] for the work. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver units[av], and 67 priestly garments.

73 The priests, descendants of Levi, gatekeepers, singers, some of the people, the Temple Servants, and all the Israelis settled in their cities.

Ezra Reads the Law(D)

73 Seven months later,[aw] the Israelis had settled in their own cities.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 7:3 Lit. until the sun is hot
  2. Nehemiah 7:6 Lit. These are the descendants
  3. Nehemiah 7:6 The Heb. lacks of Judah
  4. Nehemiah 7:7 MT of Ezra 2:2 lacks Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani
  5. Nehemiah 7:7 Cf. MT of Ezra 2:2 Mispar
  6. Nehemiah 7:7 Cf. MT of Ezra 2:2 Rehum
  7. Nehemiah 7:8 Lit. Sons of; and so throughout the chapter
  8. Nehemiah 7:10 Cf. Ezra 2:3 775
  9. Nehemiah 7:11 Cf. Ezra 2:6 2,812
  10. Nehemiah 7:13 Cf. Ezra 2:8 945
  11. Nehemiah 7:15 Cf. Ezra 2:10 Bani
  12. Nehemiah 7:15 Cf. Ezra 2:10 642
  13. Nehemiah 7:16 Cf. Ezra 2:11 623
  14. Nehemiah 7:17 Cf. Ezra 2:12 1,222
  15. Nehemiah 7:18 Cf. Ezra 2:13 666
  16. Nehemiah 7:19 Cf. Ezra 2:14 2,056
  17. Nehemiah 7:20 Cf. Ezra 2:15 454
  18. Nehemiah 7:22 Cf. Ezra 2:19 223
  19. Nehemiah 7:23 Cf. Ezra 2:17 323
  20. Nehemiah 7:24 Cf. Ezra 2:18 Jorah
  21. Nehemiah 7:25 Cf. Ezra 2:19 Gibbar
  22. Nehemiah 7:26 Cf. Ezra 2:21-22 where the total is 179
  23. Nehemiah 7:28 Cf. Ezra 2:24 Azmaveth
  24. Nehemiah 7:29 Cf. Ezra 2:25 Kiriath-arim
  25. Nehemiah 7:32 Cf. Ezra 2:28 223
  26. Nehemiah 7:37 Cf. Ezra 2:33 725
  27. Nehemiah 7:38 Cf. Ezra 2:35 3,630
  28. Nehemiah 7:43 Cf. Ezra 2:40 Hodaviah
  29. Nehemiah 7:44 Cf. Ezra 2:41 128
  30. Nehemiah 7:45 Cf. Ezra 2:42 139
  31. Nehemiah 7:47 Cf. Ezra 2:44 Siaha
  32. Nehemiah 7:48 Cf. Ezra 2:45-46 and Akkub 46 Descendants of Hagab, Shalmai
  33. Nehemiah 7:52 Cf. Ezra 2:49-50 Besai. 50 Descendants of Asnah,
  34. Nehemiah 7:52 Cf. Ezra 2:50 Nephusim
  35. Nehemiah 7:54 Cf. Ezra 2:52 Bazluth
  36. Nehemiah 7:57 Cf. Ezra 2:55 Hassophereth
  37. Nehemiah 7:57 Cf. Ezra 2:55 Peruda
  38. Nehemiah 7:59 Cf. Ezra 2:47 Ami
  39. Nehemiah 7:62 Cf. Ezra 2:60 652
  40. Nehemiah 7:63 Cf. Ezra 7:61 Hakkoz
  41. Nehemiah 7:64 Lit. unclean
  42. Nehemiah 7:65 Lit. Tirshatha; i.e. a Persian title
  43. Nehemiah 7:65 I.e. a high priest to whom God would reveal his will through the jewel-encrusted breastplate that he wore; cf. Exod 28:30, Ezra 2:63
  44. Nehemiah 7:67 Cf. Ezra 2:65 200
  45. Nehemiah 7:68 Some MT mss. lack this v.
  46. Nehemiah 7:70 Lit. Tirshatha; i.e. a Persian title
  47. Nehemiah 7:71 Lit. mina
  48. Nehemiah 7:72 Lit. mina
  49. Nehemiah 7:73 Lit. When the seventh month came; cf. Ezra 3:1