Nehemiah 7 (UST)

1Once we had finished rebuilding the wall and we had put the doors in the gates, we assigned the gatekeepers and singers and Levites to their tasks.When the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.

2I appointed two men to{ help me} govern Jerusalem, my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the commander of the fortress{ in Jerusalem}. I appointed Hananiah because he was trustworthy, and because he showed God more reverence and respect than most people do.Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

3I told them,“Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until broad daylight.{ That way we will be able to see anything our enemies are doing.} Have the gatekeepers close{ the gates} and put the bars across the doors while they are still guarding{ the gates before they go home for the night}.” I also told them,“Have the men who live in Jerusalem take turns keeping watch in their own neighborhoods.”And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”

4The city of Jerusalem covered a large area, but{ at that time} not many people lived in the city, and they had not yet built houses{ for themselves}.Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

5So{ as a first step towards filling Jerusalem with people again}, God led me to gather together the leading citizens and the city officials and the other people{ living in the city} to register them according to their family histories. I also found a book containing the records of the first group of people who had returned{ to Jerusalem} from the exile. This is what those records said.Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. I found the genealogical register of those who had first returned, and I found the following written in it:

6“These are{ the names of} the people from Judah who returned home from exile. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken{ their ancestors} away{ to Babylon}. But they returned to Jerusalem and to{ other places in} Judah. They returned to the{ same} towns where their{ ancestors had lived}.These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

7The people who came back were following Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.{ This is a list of} the number of men from{ each} Israelite{ clan who returned}:accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:

82172 men from{ the clan of} Parosh;the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;

9372 men from{ the clan of} Shephatiah;the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;

10652 men from{ the clan of} Arah;the descendants of Arah, 652;

112818 men from{ the clan of} Pahath- Moab, who are descendants of Jeshua and Joab;the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;

121254 men from{ the clan of} Elam;the descendants of Elam, 1,254;

13845 men from{ the clan of} Zattu;the descendants of Zattu, 845;

14760 men from{ the clan of} Zakkai;the descendants of Zaccai, 760;

15648 men from{ the clan of} Binnui;the descendants of Binnui, 648;

16628 men from{ the clan of} Bebai;the descendants of Bebai, 628;

172322 men from{ the clan of} Azgad;the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;

18667 men from{ the clan of} Adonikam;the descendants of Adonikam, 667;

192067 men from{ the clan of} Bigvai;the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;

20655 men from{ the clan of} Adin;the descendants of Adin, 655;

2198 men from{ the clan of} Ater who were descendants of Hezekiah;the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;

22328 men from{ the clan of} Hashum;the descendants of Hashum, 328;

23324 men from{ the clan of} Bezai;the descendants of Bezai, 324;

24112 men from{ the clan of} Hariph;the descendants of Hariph, 112;

2595 men from{ the clan of} Gibeon.the descendants of Gibeon, 95;

26{ Some other} men{ also returned, whose ancestors had lived in these towns}: 188 men from Bethlehem and Netophah;the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;

27128 men from Anathoth;the men of Anathoth, 128;

2842 men from Beth- Azmaveth;the men of Beth-azmaveth, 42;

29743 men from Kiriath- Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth;the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;

30621 men from Ramah and Geba;the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;

31122 men from Michmas;the men of Michmash, 122;

32123 men from Bethel and Ai;the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

3352 men from a{ small town} called Nebo;the men of the other Nebo, 52;

341254 men from a{ small town} called Elam;the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;

35320 men from Harim;the descendants of Harim, 320;

36345 men from Jericho;the men of Jericho, 345;

37721 men from Lod, Hadid, and Ono;the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;

383930 men from Senaah.and the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.

39These priests also returned: 973 men from{ the clan of} Jedaiah who are descendants of Jeshua;The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973;

401052 men from{ the clan of} Immer;the descendants of Immer, 1,052;

411247 men from{ the clan of} Pashhur;the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;

421017 men from{ the clan of} Harim.and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.

43These Levites also returned: 74 men from the clan of Jeshua and{ the clan of} Kadmiel, all of them descendants of Hodevah.The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodevah), 74.

44148 members of the{ sacred} choir{ also returned}. All of them were from the clan of Asaph.The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 148.

45138{ temple} gatekeepers{ also returned}. They were from the clan of Shallum, the clan of Ater, the clan of Talmon, the clan of Akkub, the clan of Hatita, and the clan of Shobai.The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138 in all.

46Some temple workers also returned. They were from the clan of Ziha, the clan of Hasupha, the clan of Tabbaoth,The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,

47the clan of Keros, the clan of Sia, the clan of Padon,the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon,

48the clan of Lebanah, the clan of Hagabah, the clan of Shalmai,the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai,

49the clan of Hanan, the clan of Giddel, the clan of Gahar,the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar,

50the clan of Reaiah, the clan of Rezin, the clan of Nekoda,the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda,

51the clan of Gazzam, the clan of Uzza, the clan of Paseah,the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah,

52the clan of Besai, the clan of Meunim, the clan of Nephushesim,the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephushesim,

53the clan of Bakbuk, the clan of Hakupha, the clan of Harhur,the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,

54the clan of Bazlith, the clan of Mehida, the clan of Harsha,the descendants of Bazlith, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,

55the clan of Barkos, the clan of Sisera, the clan of Temah,the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,

56the clan of Neziah, and the clan of Hatipha.the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.

57Some descendants of the laborers that King Solomon{ first conscripted also returned}. These were from the clan of Sotai, the clan of Sophereth, the clan of Perida,The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida,

58the clan of Jaalah, the clan of Darkon, the clan of Giddel,the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,

59the clan of Shephatiah, the clan of Hattil, the clan of Pochereth- Hazzebaim, and the clan of Amon.the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon.

60Altogether, there were 392 descendants of the{ temple} workers and{ conscripted} laborers{ who returned}.The temple servants and descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all.

61Another group also returned{ that came from the towns of} Tel- Melah, Tel- Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer{ in Babylonia}. But they could not prove that they were descendants of Israelites.The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

62These 642 men were from the clan of Delaiah, the clan of Tobiah, and the clan of Nekoda.the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642 in all.

63Some priests{ also returned who were} from the clan of Hobaiah, the clan of Hakkoz, and the clan of Barzillai. Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of a man named Barzillai from the region of Gilead. He had taken the family name of his wife.And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).

64These{ priests} searched the records that contained the names of the Israelite ancestors, but they could not find the names of their families.{ They did not qualify to be priests because they could not trace their family history,} so they were not allowed to have{ the rights and duties of} priests.These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

65The governor told them that they must not eat any of the share of food taken from the sacrifices and kept for the priests. They would have to wait until the priest{ in charge of the temple} had begun his duties and could ask{ God} what to do{ about this situation}.The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

66Altogether, 42360 people{ returned to Judea}.The whole assembly numbered 42,360,

67There were also 7337 male servants and female servants, and 245 male singers and female singers.in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 245 male and female singers.

68{ The Israelites also brought back from Babylonia} 736 horses, 245 mules,They had 736 horses, 245 mules,

69435 camels, and 6720 donkeys.435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

70Some of the leaders of the ancestral clans gave{ gifts} for the work{ of rebuilding the temple}. The governor gave into the treasury more than 8 kilograms of gold, 50 bowls{ to be used in the temple}, and 530 robes for the priests.Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.

71Some of the leaders of the ancestral clans also gave into the{ temple} treasury for the work{ of rebuilding the temple a total of} 153 kilograms of gold, and 1460 kilograms of silver.And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the project 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.

72And the remainder of the people gave{ a total of} 153 kilograms of gold, 1330 kilograms of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.”The rest of the people gave a total of 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priestly garments.

73So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the{ temple} workers, and many ordinary people{ started to} live in the{ towns and} cities{ of Judea where} their{ ancestors had lived}. All these people were Israelites. By the seventh month{ all of} the Israelites had gone to their cities and had started living in them.So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.

Nehemiah 7

Securing the City

The List of Returning Exiles

Offerings by the Exiles

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Nehemiah 7

Securing the City

The List of Returning Exiles

Offerings by the Exiles

You’ve read Nehemiah 7

Go Deeper