Nehemiah 7

1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.
2 I 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.
3 I 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.”

The List of the Exiles Who Returned

4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
5 So 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:
6 These 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,
7 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah): The list of the men of Israel:
8 the descendants of Parosh, 2,172
9 of Shephatiah, 372
10 of Arah, 652
11 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818
12 of Elam, 1,254
13 of Zattu, 845
14 of Zaccai, 760
15 of Binnui, 648
16 of Bebai, 628
17 of Azgad, 2,322
18 of Adonikam, 667
19 of Bigvai, 2,067
20 of Adin1, 655
21 of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98
22 of Hashum, 328
23 of Bezai, 324
24 of Hariph, 112
25 of Gibeon, 95
26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah2, 188
27 of Anathoth3, 128
28 of Beth Azmaveth, 42
29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah4 and Beeroth5, 743
30 of Ramah and Geba, 621
31 of Micmash, 122
32 of Bethel and Ai6, 123
33 of the other Nebo, 52
34 of the other Elam, 1,254
35 of Harim, 320
36 of Jericho7, 345
37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono8, 721
38 of Senaah, 3,930
39 The priests:
40 of Immer, 1,052
41 of Pashhur, 1,247
42 of Harim, 1,017
43 The Levites:
44 The musicians:
45 The gatekeepers:
46 The temple servants:
47 Keros, Sia, Padon,
48 Lebana, Hagaba, 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 the servants of Solomon:
58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
59 Shephatiah, Hattil,
60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon9, 392
61 The 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:
62 the descendants of
63 And from among the priests:
64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
65 The 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.
66 The whole company numbered 42,360,
67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.
68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[a]
69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[b] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests.
71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[c] of gold and 2,200 minas[d] of silver.
72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[e] of silver and 67 garments for priests.
73 The 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,

Nehemiah 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The city committed to Hananiah. (1-4) Register of those that first returned. (5-73)

Verses 1-4 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.

Verses 5-73 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!

Cross References 28

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 9:27; S 1 Chronicles 26:12-19; Nehemiah 6:1,15
  • 2. Psalms 68:25
  • 3. Nehemiah 8:9
  • 4. Nehemiah 1:2
  • 5. Nehemiah 10:23
  • 6. Nehemiah 2:8
  • 7. 1 Kings 18:3
  • 8. Nehemiah 11:1
  • 9. S 2 Chronicles 36:20; Ezra 2:1-70; S Nehemiah 1:2
  • 10. S 1 Chronicles 3:19; Ezra 2:2
  • 11. S Ezra 8:6
  • 12. S 2 Samuel 23:28; S 1 Chronicles 2:54
  • 13. S Joshua 21:18
  • 14. S Joshua 18:26
  • 15. S Joshua 18:25
  • 16. S Genesis 12:8
  • 17. Nehemiah 3:2
  • 18. S 1 Chronicles 8:12
  • 19. Nehemiah 11:23
  • 20. S 1 Chronicles 9:17
  • 21. S Nehemiah 3:26
  • 22. S 1 Chronicles 9:2
  • 23. S Exodus 28:30; Nehemiah 8:9
  • 24. S 1 Chronicles 29:7
  • 25. S Exodus 25:2
  • 26. Nehemiah 1:10; Psalms 34:22; Psalms 103:21; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 135:1
  • 27. S Ezra 3:1; Nehemiah 11:1
  • 28. Ezra 3:1

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have this verse.
  • [b]. That is, about 19 pounds or about 8.4 kilograms
  • [c]. That is, about 375 pounds or about 170 kilograms; also in verse 72
  • [d]. That is, about 1 1/3 tons or about 1.2 metric tons
  • [e]. That is, about 1 1/4 tons or about 1.1 metric tons

Chapter Summary

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.

Nehemiah 7 Commentaries

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