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.
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!
Key Words
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
חוֹמָה: a wall of protection
בָּנָה: to build (literally and figuratively)
עָמַד: to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
דֶּלֶת: something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor
שׁוֹעֵר: a janitor
שִׁיר: to sing
לֵוִיִּי: a Levite or descendant of Levi
פָּקַד: to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Cross References
Nehemiah 7The foundational parallel register of those returning with Zerubbabel, which Nehemiah explicitly finds and transcriptions.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel list detailing the genealogical search and exclusion of these specific priestly families.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Hanani, Nehemiah's brother, who previously brought report of Jerusalem's ruin to Shushan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
JFB notes Hariph in Nehemiah is the same as Jorah in Ezra's register.
Supported by JFB
JFB notes Sia is spelling variant of Siaha in the parallel register.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel text tracking those returning from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Defines the Urim and Thummim, which the Tirshatha required to resolve genealogical doubt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel confirming the resettlement of the priests, Levites, and people in their cities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the assembly of Israel in the seventh month after settling in cities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes context: the wall is completed and doors set up, initiating public order.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
Direct parallel in Ezra's list of those returning with Zerubbabel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel register entry where Gibeon corresponds to Gibbar in Ezra.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel record of the men of Anathoth returning from exile.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel listing for the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel record of the men of Ramah and Geba.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel listing of the families of Lod, Hadid, and Ono.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel listing for the priests of the house of Jedaiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel listing for the priestly family of Immer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Establishes historical origin of Nethinim as temple servants from Joshua's treaty.
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
Further historical background on David showing kindness to the sons of Barzillai.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical ruling by the Tirshatha regarding eating the most holy things.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Biblical precedent for seeking divine judgment through the Urim before the priest.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
The Mosaic standard for appointing rulers: able, God-fearing, trustworthy men.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts corrupt rulers with those who act uprightly specifically because of the fear of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Nehemiah's strict security protocols regarding the shutting of Jerusalem's gates.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
Direct parallel in Ezra's list of the children of Pashur.
Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole
Direct parallel in Ezra's list of the children of Harim.
Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole
Direct parallel in Ezra's list of Levites.
Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole