Nehemiah 7:29-65

29 Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth - 743

30 Ramah and Geba - 621

31 Michmash - 122

32 Bethel and Ai - 123

33 The other Nebo - 52

34 The other Elam - 1,254

35 Harim - 320

36 Jericho - 345

37 Lod, Hadid, and Ono - 721

38 Senaah - 3,930

39 This is the list of the priestly clans that returned from exile: Jedaiah (descendants of Jeshua) - 973

40 Immer - 1,052

41 Pashhur - 1,247

42 Harim - 1,017

43 Clans of Levites who returned from exile: Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah) - 74

44 Temple musicians (descendants of Asaph) - 148

45 Temple guards (descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai) - 138

46 Clans of temple workmen who returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Sia, Padon,

48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52 Besai, Meunim, Nephushesim,

53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54 Bazlith, Mehida, Harsha,

55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56 Neziah, and Hatipha.

57 Clans of Solomon's servants who returned from exile: Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

58 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,

59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Amon.

60 The total number of descendants of the temple workmen and of Solomon's servants who returned from exile was 392.

61 There were 642 belonging to the clans of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda who returned from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer;

62 but they could not prove that they were descendants of Israelites.

63 The following priestly clans could find no record to prove their ancestry: Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai. (The ancestor of the priestly clan of Barzillai had married a woman from the clan of Barzillai of Gilead and taken the name of his father-in-law's clan.)

64 Since they were unable to prove who their ancestors were, they were not accepted as priests.

65 The Jewish governor told them that they could not eat the food offered to God until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim. ¹

Nehemiah 7:29-65 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.

Cross References

• 1. 7.65Exodus 28.30;Deuteronomy 33.8.

Footnotes

• [a]. urim and thummim: [Two objects used by the priest to determine God's will; it is not known precisely how they were used.]