Nehemiah 7:58-68

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

66 Total number of exiles who returned - 42,360 Their male and female servants - 7,337

67 Male and female musicians - 245

68 Horses - 736, Mules - 245

Nehemiah 7:58-68 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.]