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The Book of Nehemiah

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- Chapter 7 -

1
Then, after the wall was built, and I set up the double doors, and I enrolled the gatekeepers, and the singing men, and the Levites,
2
I instructed Hanani, my brother, and Hananiah, the leader of the house of Jerusalem, (for he seemed to be a truthful man, fearing God more than the others,)
3
and I said to them: “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot.” And while they were standing there, the gates were closed and barred. And I stationed guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each one in his turn, and each one opposite his own house.

The captives who returned to Jerusalem

(Ezra 2:1-67)
4
Now the city was great and very wide, and the people in its midst were few, and the houses were not yet built.
5
But God had given to my heart, and I gathered the nobles, and the magistrates, and the common people, so that I might enroll them. And I found a book of the census of those who first went up, and in it there was found written:
6
These are the sons of the province, who ascended from the captivity of the transmigration, those whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had taken away, and who returned into Jerusalem and Judea, each one to his own city.
7
They arrived with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8
The sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9
The sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
10
The sons of Arah, six hundred fifty-two.
11
The sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and of Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.(a)
12
The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13
The sons of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five.
14
The sons of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
15
The sons of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight.
16
The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
17
The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18
The sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven.
19
The sons of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven.
20
The sons of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.
21
The sons of Ater, sons of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22
The sons of Hashum, three hundred twenty-eight.
23
The sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four.
24
The sons of Hariph, one hundred twelve.
25
The sons of Gibeon, ninety-five.
26
The sons of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight.
27
The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
28
The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two.
29
The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
30
The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
31
The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.
32
The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty-three.
33
The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.
34
The men of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35
The sons of Harim, three hundred twenty.
36
The sons of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
37
The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
38
The sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah in the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
40
The sons of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
41
The sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42
The sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
43
The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, the sons
44
of Hodaviah, seventy-four. The singing men:
45
the sons of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight.
46
The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, one hundred thirty-eight.
47
The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
48
the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Shalmai,(b)
49
the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50
the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51
the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52
the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephusim,
53
the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54
the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55
the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
56
the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
57
The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58
the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59
the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth, who was born from Hazzebaim, the son of Amon.
60
All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon, three hundred ninety-two.
61
Now these are the ones who ascended from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; and they were not able to indicate the house of their fathers and their offspring, whether they were of Israel:
62
the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two;
63
and among the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai, a Gileadite, and he was called by their name.
64
These sought their writing in the census, and they did not find it, and so they were cast out of the priesthood.
65
And the cupbearer said to them that they should not eat from the Holy of Holies, until a priest would stand up who was learned and skillful.
66
The entire multitude, which was like one man, was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
67
aside from their men and women servants, who were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven, and among them were singing men and singing women, two hundred forty-five.
68
Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules were two hundred forty-five.
69
Their camels were four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys were six thousand seven hundred twenty.(c)
(Exodus 38:21-31; Ezra 2:68-70)
70
Now several of the leaders of the families gave to the work. The cupbearer gave to the treasury one thousand drachmas of gold, fifty bowls, and five hundred thirty priestly garments.(d)
71
And some of the leaders of the families gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand drachmas of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.
72
And what the remainder of the people gave was twenty thousand drachmas of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priestly garments.
73
Now the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singing men, and the rest of the common people, and the temple servants, and all of Israel dwelt in their own cities.

Footnotes

(a)7:11 Why is this line attributed to two men, Jeshua and Joab? One possibility is that one man died with no children, or at least no sons, and his brother, in accord with Mosaic Law, married his widow in order to raise up sons to his brother. So the sons of the second husband of the woman would be attributed to the lineage of both men. This Biblical principle, that biological descent is not necessary for a lineage, is also found in Matthew’s Gospel, where he recounts the lineage of Joseph, even though Jesus is not the biological son of Joseph.(Conte)
(b)7:48 Shalmai is listed as Shamlai in Ezra.(Conte)
(c)7:69 Hitherto is related what was written in the record. From this place forward goes on the history of Nehemiah.(Challoner)
(d)7:70 Athersatha:That is, Nehemiah; as appears from chap. 12. Either that he was so called at the court of the king of Persia, where he was cupbearer: or that, as some think, this name signifies governor; and he was at that time governor of Judea.(Challoner)
1
Now when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
2
I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many.
3
I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them; and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.”

The captives who returned to Jerusalem

(Ezra 2:1-67)
4
Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.
5
My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:
6
These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city,
7
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8
The children of Parosh: two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9
The children of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy-two.
10
The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.
11
The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12
The children of Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13
The children of Zattu: eight hundred forty-five.
14
The children of Zaccai: seven hundred sixty.
15
The children of Binnui: six hundred forty-eight.
16
The children of Bebai: six hundred twenty-eight.
17
The children of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18
The children of Adonikam: six hundred sixty-seven.
19
The children of Bigvai: two thousand sixty-seven.
20
The children of Adin: six hundred fifty-five.
21
The children of Ater: of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22
The children of Hashum: three hundred twenty-eight.
23
The children of Bezai: three hundred twenty-four.
24
The children of Hariph: one hundred twelve.
25
The children of Gibeon: ninety-five.
26
The men of Bethlehem and Netophah: one hundred eighty-eight.
27
The men of Anathoth: one hundred twenty-eight.
28
The men of Beth Azmaveth: forty-two.
29
The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty-three.
30
The men of Ramah and Geba: six hundred twenty-one.
31
The men of Michmas: one hundred twenty-two.
32
The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.
33
The men of the other Nebo: fifty-two.
34
The children of the other Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35
The children of Harim: three hundred twenty.
36
The children of Jericho: three hundred forty-five.
37
The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred twenty-one.
38
The children of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39
The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy-three.
40
The children of Immer: one thousand fifty-two.
41
The children of Pashhur: one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42
The children of Harim: one thousand seventeen.
43
The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah: seventy-four.
44
The singers: the children of Asaph: one hundred forty-eight.
45
The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai: one hundred thirty-eight.
46
The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47
the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48
the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
49
the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50
the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51
the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah,
52
the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
53
the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54
the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55
the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
56
the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.
57
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
58
the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59
the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the children of Amon.
60
All the temple servants and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.
61
These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring,(a) whether they were of Israel:
62
The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda: six hundred forty-two.
63
Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
64
These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
65
The governor told them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.
66
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
67
in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. They had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.
68
Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
69
their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
(Exodus 38:21-31; Ezra 2:68-70)
70
Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold,(b) fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments.
71
Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas (c) of silver.
72
That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, plus two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.
73
So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Footnotes

(a)7:61 or, seed
(b)7:70 a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.
(c)7:71 A mina is about 600 grams or 1.3 U. S. pounds, so 2,200 minas is about 1.3 metric tons.
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