CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Nehemiah 7
Chapter 7 of 13
Chapter Overview
What happens in Nehemiah 7
With the wall finished, Nehemiah sets up gatekeepers and security. He also finds the record of the families who first returned from Babylon. This chapter contains a long list of families and the number of people in each one, along with the gifts they gave for the rebuilding work.
Scripture
Nehemiah 7
Guarding the City
Study note
After the wall was built, Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers, singers, and Levites to serve at the gates. He placed his brother Hanani and a man named Hananiah in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was chosen because he was trustworthy and feared God. The city was large, but few people lived inside because many houses had not yet been rebuilt.
1 Once the wall was finished and I had the doors installed, I assigned the gatekeepers, musicians, and Levites to their posts. Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
2 I put two men in charge of Jerusalem: my brother Hanani and Hananiah the fortress commander. Hananiah was an honest, God-fearing man -- more so than most people. That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
3 I told them, "Do not open Jerusalem's gates until the sun is blazing hot. Have the guards lock up the gates while they are still on duty. Also, appoint Jerusalem residents to stand guard, each one stationed near their own home." And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.
4 The city was spacious with lots of room, but few people lived inside it. Most of the houses had not been rebuilt yet. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
The Record of Returning Families
Study note
God put it in Nehemiah's heart to count the people. He found the official record of the families who first returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel, about ninety years earlier. This list was important because it proved who had the right to live in the land, serve as priests, and be part of the community. The list includes family names and the names of their hometowns.
5 God prompted me to gather the nobles, officials, and common people to register their families. I located the record of the very first group who had returned from Babylon. Here is what it said: And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,
6 These are the people from the province who came back from exile. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had deported them. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each going to their hometown. These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
7 Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. Here are the numbers for the Israelite men: Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;
8 Parosh's descendants: 2,172. The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
9 Shephatiah's family: 372. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
10 Arah's descendants: 652. The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
11 Pahath-moab's descendants (through Jeshua and Joab): 2,818. The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
12 Elam's descendants: 1,254. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
13 Zattu's family: 845. The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
14 Zaccai's family: 760. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
15 Binnui's family: 648. The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
16 Bebai's family: 628. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
17 Azgad's descendants: 2,322. The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
18 Adonikam's descendants: 667. The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
19 Bigvai's descendants: 2,067. The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
20 Adin's family: 655. The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
21 Ater's descendants (through Hezekiah): 98. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
22 Hashum's descendants: 328. The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
23 Bezai's family: 324. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
24 Hariph's family: 112. The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.
25 Gibeon's descendants: 95. The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
26 Men from Bethlehem and Netophah together: 188. The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
27 Men from Anathoth: 128. The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
28 Men from Beth-azmaveth: 42. The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two.
29 Men from Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: 743. The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.
30 Men from Ramah and Geba: 621. The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
31 Men from Michmas: 122. The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.
32 Men from Bethel and Ai: 123. The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
33 Men from the other Nebo: 52. The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
34 Descendants of the other Elam: 1,254. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
35 Harim's descendants: 320. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
36 Jericho's family: 345. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
37 People from Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 721. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.
38 Senaah's descendants: 3,930. The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
Priests, Levites, and Temple Workers
Study note
This section lists the religious workers who returned from exile. It includes four families of priests, Levites who served in the temple, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants called Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon's servants. The Nethinim were workers who helped the Levites with the physical tasks of maintaining the temple.
39 Among the priests: Jedaiah's descendants (Jeshua's family): 973. The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
40 Immer's descendants: 1,052. The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
41 Pashur's descendants: 1,247. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
42 Harim's descendants: 1,017. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
43 Among the Levites: descendants of Jeshua, through Kadmiel, from the Hodevah family: 74. The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
44 Among the singers: Asaph's family: 148. The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.
45 Among the gatekeepers: the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai: 138. The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.
46 Among the temple workers: descendants of Ziha, Hashupha, and Tabbaoth, The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47 descendants of Keros, Sia, and Padon, The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48 descendants of Lebana, Hagaba, and Shalmai, The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
49 descendants of Hanan, Giddel, and Gahar, The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50 descendants of Reaiah, Rezin, and Nekoda, The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51 descendants of Gazzam, Uzza, and Phaseah, The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
52 descendants of Besai, Meunim, and Nephishesim, The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53 descendants of Bakbuk, Hakupha, and Harhur, The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54 descendants of Bazlith, Mehida, and Harsha, The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55 descendants of Barkos, Sisera, and Tamah, The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56 descendants of Neziah and Hatipha. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
57 Among Solomon's servants' descendants: Sotai, Sophereth, and Perida, The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
58 Jaala, Darkon, and Giddel, The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Amon. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
60 Temple workers and Solomon's servants' families totaled 392. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
Those Who Could Not Prove Their Ancestry
Study note
Some families could not find their names in the official family records. This was a serious problem, especially for those who claimed to be priests. Without proof of their ancestry, they could not serve as priests. The governor told them they could not eat the holy food until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim, sacred objects used to learn God's will.
61 Some people came from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not prove their families came from Israel. And these were they which went up also from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
62 This group had families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. They totaled 642 people. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
63 Among the priests: descendants of Habaiah, Koz, and Barzillai. (Barzillai had married a woman from the family of Barzillai the Gileadite and adopted that family's name.) And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.
64 They searched for their names in the genealogical records but could not find them. So they were disqualified from the priesthood. These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
65 The governor told them they could not eat the most holy food yet. They had to wait until a priest could check the Urim and Thummim to settle the matter. And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
The Total Count and Gifts
Study note
The total number of people who returned was 42,360, plus their servants. They also brought animals for travel and work. The leaders gave generous gifts of gold, silver, and priestly robes to help with the rebuilding of the temple. A dram was a gold coin used in the Persian Empire. The people settled into their cities and waited for the seventh month, when important religious events would take place.
66 The entire assembled community totaled 42,360, The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
67 not counting 7,337 male and female servants. They also had 245 male and female musicians. Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
68 They had 736 horses and 245 mules. Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:
69 They had 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
70 Some family leaders gave to the project. The governor gave the treasury 1,000 gold coins, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly outfits. And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
71 Other family leaders gave the treasury 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 pounds of silver for the work. And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
72 Everyone else contributed 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 pounds of silver, and 67 priestly robes. And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.
73 The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, some of the common people, temple workers, and all the rest of Israel settled in their own towns. When the seventh month arrived, the Israelites were living in their towns. So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
Key Themes
Themes in Nehemiah 7
Securing what has been builtFaithful record-keeping preserves identityGuarding the gates of your lifeGenerosity to fund ongoing work
Apply This Today
Living Nehemiah 7
After the wall was built, Nehemiah immediately set up guards and gatekeepers. Completing a goal is not the end — you must also protect what God has helped you build. Put safeguards in place for your spiritual life, your relationships, and your achievements.
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