Nehemiah 7NIV
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Nehemiah7

New International Version

1After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.

2I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

3I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

4Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

5So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:

6These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

7in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah): The list of the men of Israel:

8the descendants of Parosh 2,172

9of Shephatiah 372

10of Arah 652

11of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818

12of Elam 1,254

13of Zattu 845

14of Zakkai 760

15of Binnui 648

16of Bebai 628

17of Azgad 2,322

18of Adonikam 667

19of Bigvai 2,067

20of Adin 655

21of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98

22of Hashum 328

23of Bezai 324

24of Hariph 112

25of Gibeon 95

26the men of Bethlehem and Netophah 188

27of Anathoth 128

28of Beth Azmaveth 42

29of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743

30of Ramah and Geba 621

31of Mikmash 122

32of Bethel and Ai 123

33of the other Nebo 52

34of the other Elam 1,254

35of Harim 320

36of Jericho 345

37of Lod, Hadid and Ono 721

38of Senaah 3,930

39The priests:the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973

40of Immer 1,052

41of Pashhur 1,247

42of Harim 1,017

43The Levites:the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) 74

44The musicians:the descendants of Asaph 148

45The gatekeepers:the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai138

46The temple servants:the descendants ofZiha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47Keros, Sia, Padon,

48Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

49Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,

53Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

55Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56Neziah and Hatipha

57The descendants of the servants of Solomon:the descendants ofSotai, Sophereth, Perida,

58Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

59Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon

60The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392

61The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

62the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda642

63And from among the priests:the descendants ofHobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

64These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

65The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

66The whole company numbered 42,360,

67besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.

68There were 736 horses, 245 mules,

69435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

70Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests.

71Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.

72The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.

73The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Nehemiah 7.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The city committed to Hananiah. (1–4). Register of those that first returned. (5–73).

vv1-4

Nehemiah, having finished the wall, returned to the Persian court, and came to Jerusalem again with a new commission. The public safety depends on every one's care to guard himself and his family against sin.

vv5-73

Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves, and their substance, to his service and glory!

Cross References

Nehemiah 7
v6Ezra 2:1-70thematic

The foundational parallel register of those returning with Zerubbabel, which Nehemiah explicitly finds and transcriptions.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v63Ezra 2:61-63thematic

Direct parallel list detailing the genealogical search and exclusion of these specific priestly families.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Nehemiah 1:2thematic

Identifies Hanani, Nehemiah's brother, who previously brought report of Jerusalem's ruin to Shushan.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v24Ezra 2:18thematic

JFB notes Hariph in Nehemiah is the same as Jorah in Ezra's register.

Supported by JFB

v47Ezra 2:44thematic

JFB notes Sia is spelling variant of Siaha in the parallel register.

Supported by JFB

v61Ezra 2:59thematic

Direct parallel text tracking those returning from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v65Exodus 28:30thematic

Defines the Urim and Thummim, which the Tirshatha required to resolve genealogical doubt.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v73Ezra 2:70thematic

Direct parallel confirming the resettlement of the priests, Levites, and people in their cities.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v73Ezra 3:1thematic

Parallel account of the assembly of Israel in the seventh month after settling in cities.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Nehemiah 6:1thematic

Establishes context: the wall is completed and doors set up, initiating public order.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Nehemiah 11:1thematic

Shows the immediate next step to address the large city's small, scattered population.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Parallels God putting earnest care and wisdom directly into the heart of His servants.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Ezra 2:16thematic

Direct parallel in Ezra's list of those returning with Zerubbabel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v25Ezra 2:20thematic

Parallel register entry where Gibeon corresponds to Gibbar in Ezra.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v27Ezra 2:23thematic

Parallel record of the men of Anathoth returning from exile.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v29Ezra 2:25thematic

Parallel listing for the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v30Ezra 2:26thematic

Parallel record of the men of Ramah and Geba.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v37Ezra 2:33thematic

Parallel listing of the families of Lod, Hadid, and Ono.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v39Ezra 2:36thematic

Parallel listing for the priests of the house of Jedaiah.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v40Ezra 2:37thematic

Parallel listing for the priestly family of Immer.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v46Joshua 9:23-27thematic

Establishes historical origin of Nethinim as temple servants from Joshua's treaty.

v571 Kings 9:21thematic

Identifies origin of Solomon's servants from subjugated Canaanite populations.

Provides historical background of Barzillai the Gileadite, whose descendants lost their register.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v631 Kings 2:7thematic

Further historical background on David showing kindness to the sons of Barzillai.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v65Ezra 2:63thematic

Identical ruling by the Tirshatha regarding eating the most holy things.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v65Numbers 27:21thematic

Biblical precedent for seeking divine judgment through the Urim before the priest.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v70Ezra 2:68-70thematic

Parallel account of the donations and gifts offered by the heads of families.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Davidic institution of singers, gatekeepers, and Levites for organized temple service.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Exodus 18:21thematic

The Mosaic standard for appointing rulers: able, God-fearing, trustworthy men.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Nehemiah 5:15contrast

Contrasts corrupt rulers with those who act uprightly specifically because of the fear of God.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Nehemiah 13:19thematic

Nehemiah's strict security protocols regarding the shutting of Jerusalem's gates.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Ezra 2:2thematic

Direct parallel list of leaders who returned under Zerubbabel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

JFB references David's priestly courses which these returning priests reconstructed.

Supported by JFB

v41Ezra 2:38thematic

Direct parallel in Ezra's list of the children of Pashur.

Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole

v42Ezra 2:39thematic

Direct parallel in Ezra's list of the children of Harim.

Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole

v43Ezra 2:40thematic

Direct parallel in Ezra's list of Levites.

Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole