Nehemiah 7:6-72

6 Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.

7 Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile:

8 The family of Parosh 2,172

9 The family of Shephatiah 372

10 The family of Arah 652

11 The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818

12 The family of Elam 1,254

13 The family of Zattu 845

14 The family of Zaccai 760

15 The family of Bani 648

16 The family of Bebai 628

17 The family of Azgad 2,322

18 The family of Adonikam 667

19 The family of Bigvai 2,067

20 The family of Adin 655

21 The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) 98

22 The family of Hashum 328

23 The family of Bezai 324

24 The family of Jorah 112

25 The family of Gibbar 95

26 The people of Bethlehem and Netophah 188

27 The people of Anathoth 128

28 The people of Beth-azmaveth 42

29 The people of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743

30 The people of Ramah and Geba 621

31 The people of Micmash 122

32 The people of Bethel and Ai 123

33 The people of West Nebo 52

34 The citizens of West Elam 1,254

35 The citizens of Harim 320

36 The citizens of Jericho 345

37 The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 721

38 The citizens of Senaah 3,930

39 These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973

40 The family of Immer 1,052

41 The family of Pashhur 1,247

42 The family of Harim 1,017

43 These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah ) 74

44 The singers of the family of Asaph 148

45 The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 138

46 The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Siaha, Padon,

48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai,

49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,

53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56 Neziah, and Hatipha.

57 The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,

58 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,

59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.

60 In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants numbered 392.

61 Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.

62 This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda—a total of 642 people.

63 Three families of priests—Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai—also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.)

64 They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.

65 The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the LORD about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.

66 So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah,

67 in addition to 7,337 servants and 245 singers, both men and women.

68 They took with them 736 horses, 245 mules,

69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

70 Some of the family leaders gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold coins, 50 gold basins, and 530 robes for the priests.

71 The other leaders gave to the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins and some 2,750 pounds of silver for the work.

72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, about 2,500 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.

Nehemiah 7:6-72 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 7

Nehemiah having built the wall, and set up the doors, appointed two persons to take the charge of the city, and set watches for the safety of it, and to take special care about opening and shutting the gates of it, Ne 7:1-3, and concerned he was for the peopling of it, and having found a register of the first comers to it, gives their names, Ne 7:4-69 and some account of the freewill offerings made for the work they came about, Ne 7:70-73.

Footnotes

• [a]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2 ; Hebrew reads Azariah.
• [b]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2 ; Hebrew reads Raamiah.
• [c]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2 ; Hebrew reads Mispereth.
• [d]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2 ; Hebrew reads Nehum.
• [e]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:10 ; Hebrew reads Binnui.
• [f]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:18 ; Hebrew reads Hariph.
• [g]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:20 ; Hebrew reads Gibeon.
• [h]. Or of the other Nebo.
• [i]. Or of the other Elam.
• [j]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:40 ; Hebrew reads Hodevah.
• [k]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:44 ; Hebrew reads Sia.
• [l]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:50 ; Hebrew reads Nephushesim.
• [m]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:52 ; Hebrew reads Bazlith.
• [n]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:55 ; Hebrew reads Sotai, Sophereth, Perida.
• [o]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:56 ; Hebrew reads Jaala.
• [p]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:57 ; Hebrew reads Amon.
• [q]. As in parallel text at Ezra 2:59 ; Hebrew reads Addon.
• [r]. As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66 ); most Hebrew manuscripts lack this verse. Verses 7:69-73 are numbered 7:68-72 in Hebrew text.
• [s]. Hebrew 1,000 darics of gold, about 19 pounds or 8.6 kilograms in weight.
• [t]. Hebrew 20,000 darics of gold, about 375 pounds or 170 kilograms in weight; also in 7:72 .
• [u]. Hebrew 2,200 minas [1,300 kilograms].
• [v]. Hebrew 2,000 minas [1,200 kilograms].