Nehemiah 7:1

1 The wall had been rebuilt. I had put up the gates at the main entrances to the city. Those who guarded the gates were appointed to their positions. So were the singers and Levites.

Nehemiah 7:1 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 7:1

Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set
up the doors
Which was not done when Sanballat sent his first letter, but now was, ( Nehemiah 6:1 ) ,

and the porters and the singers, and the Levites were appointed;
not to attend the doors of the gates of the wall, but to return to their service in the temple, who had been employed in one thing or another, while the wall and gates were building and repairing; see ( Nehemiah 3:17 ) .

Nehemiah 7:1 In-Context

1 The wall had been rebuilt. I had put up the gates at the main entrances to the city. Those who guarded the gates were appointed to their positions. So were the singers and Levites.

2 I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah helped him. Hananiah was commander of the fort that was by the temple. Hanani was an honest man. He had more respect for God than most people do.

3 I said to Hanani and Hananiah, "Don't open the gates of Jerusalem until the hottest time of the day. Tell the men who guard the gates to shut them before they go off duty. Make sure they lock them up tight. Also appoint as guards some people who live in Jerusalem. Station some of them at their appointed places. Station others near their own homes."

4 Jerusalem was large. It had a lot of room. But only a few people lived there. The houses hadn't been rebuilt yet.

5 So my God stirred me up to gather the people together. He also told me to gather the nobles and officials together with them. He wanted me to list them by families. I found the family history of those who had been the first to return. Here is what I found written in it.