Nehemiah 7
7
1 When the wall had been rebuilt and I had positioned the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I then put in charge over Jerusalem#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. my brother Hanani and Hananiah#tn Some have suggested that “Hananiah” is another name for Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother, so that only one individual is mentioned here. However, the third person plural in v. 3 indicates two people are in view. the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do. 3 I#tc The present translation (along with most English versions) reads with the Qere, a Qumran text, and the ancient versions וָאֹמַר (va’omar, “and I said”) rather than the Kethib of the MT, which reads וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyo’mer, “and he said”). said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened in the early morning,#tn Heb “until the heat of the sun.” The phrase probably means that the gates were to be opened only after the day had progressed a bit, not at the first sign of morning light (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV). It is possible, however, that the Hebrew preposition עַד (’ad), here translated as “until,” has a more rare sense of “during.” If so, this would mean that the gates were not to be left open and unattended during the hot part of the day when people typically would be at rest (cf. NLT). until those who are standing guard close the doors and lock them.#tn Presumably this would mean the gates were not to be opened until later in the morning and were to remain open until evening. Some, however, have understood Nehemiah’s instructions to mean that the gates were not to be left open during the hottest part of the day, but must be shut and locked while the guards are still on duty. See J. Barr, “Hebrew עַד, especially at Job i.18 and Neh vii.3,” JJS 27 (1982): 177-88. Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard stations and some near their homes.” 4 Now the city was spread out#tn Heb “wide of two hands.” and large, and there were not a lot of people in it.#tn Heb “the people were few in its midst.” At that time houses had not been rebuilt. 5 My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders,#tn Heb “nobles”; NCV “important men.” the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records#tn Heb “the book of genealogy.” of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record:#tn Heb “in it”; the referent (the genealogical record) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 These are the people#tn Heb “the sons of”; KJV, ASV “the children of”; NAB “the inhabitants of.” of the province who returned#tn Heb “who were going up.” from the captivity of the exiles, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile.#tc One medieval Hebrew manuscript has “to Babylon.” Cf. Ezra 2:1. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own city. 7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of Israelite men#tn Heb “the men of the people of Israel.” Some English versions translate as “the people from Israel” (NCV) or “the Israelite people” (NRSV), but “men” should be retained because the following numbers presumably include only adult males. was as follows:
8 the descendants#tn Heb “the sons of.” of Parosh, 2,172;
9 the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
10 the descendants of Arah, 652;
11 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line#tn Heb “to the sons of.” of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;
12 the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
13 the descendants of Zattu, 845;
14 the descendants of Zaccai, 760;
15 the descendants of Binnui, 648;
16 the descendants of Bebai, 628;
17 the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;
18 the descendants of Adonikam, 667;
19 the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;
20 the descendants of Adin, 655;
21 the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;
22 the descendants of Hashum, 328;
23 the descendants of Bezai, 324;
24 the descendants of Harif, 112;
25 the descendants of Gibeon, 95;
26 The men of Bethlehem#map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4. and Netophah, 188;
27 the men of Anathoth, 128;
28 the men of the family#tc The translation reads בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) rather than the MT reading בֵית אַנְשֵׁי (’anshey vet, “men of the house of”). Cf. Ezra 2:24. of Azmaveth, 42;
29 the men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
30 the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
31 the men of Micmash, 122;
32 the men of Bethel#map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3. and Ai, 123;
33 the men of the other Nebo, 52;
34 the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;
35 the descendants of Harim, 320;
36 the descendants of Jericho, 345;
37 the descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;
38 the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.
39 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family#tn Heb “to the house of.” of Jeshua), 973;
40 the descendants of Immer, 1,052;
41 the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;
42 the descendants of Harim, 1,017.
43 The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodaviah), 74.
44 The singers:
the descendants of Asaph, 148.
45 The gatekeepers:
the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138.
46 The temple servants:
the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, 47 the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon, 48 the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai, 49 the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, 50 the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, 51 the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, 52 the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim, 53 the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, 54 the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, 55 the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, 56 the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.
57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida, 58 the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, 59 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon.
60 All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon, 392.
61 These are the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify#tn Heb “relate.” their family connection#tn Heb “the house of their fathers.” or their ancestry,#tn Heb “their seed.” as to whether they were really from Israel):
62 the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642.
63 And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a woman from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). 64 They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded#tn Heb “they were desecrated.” from the priesthood. 65 The governor#tn The Hebrew term תִּרְשָׁתָא (tirshata’; KJV “Tirshatha”) is the official title of a Persian governor in Judea. In meaning it may be similar to “excellency” (cf. NAB). See further BDB 1077 s.v.; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 395; HALOT 1798 s.v. instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult#tn Heb “stood.” the Urim and Thummim.
66 The entire group numbered 42,360, 67 not counting their 7,337 male and female servants. They also had 245 male and female singers. 68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 (7:68)#tc Most Hebrew MSS omit 7:68 ET, which reads “They had 736 horses, 245 mules,” and thus have one less verse in chap. 7, ending the chapter at 7:72. This verse is included in the LXX and most English versions. Cf. Ezra 2:66. 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70 Some of the family leaders#tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.” contributed to the work. The governor contributed to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas,#tn Heb “darics” (also in vv. 71, 72). 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. 71 Some of the family leaders gave to the project treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. 72 What the rest of the people gave amounted to 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.
73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all the rest of Israel lived in their cities.
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Nehemiah 7: NET
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2 Esdras (Nehemias) 7
7
1Now after the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and numbered the porters and singing men, and Levites:
2I commanded Hanani my brother, and Hananias ruler of the house of Jerusalem, (for he seemed as a sincere man, and one that feared God above the rest)
3And I said to them: Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the sun be hot. And while they were yet standing by, the gates were shut, and barred: and I set watchmen of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one by their courses, and every mall over against his house.
4And the city was very wide and great; and the people few in the midst thereof; and the houses were not built.
5But God had put in my heart, and I assembled the princes and magistrates, and common people, to number them. And I found a book of the number of them who came up at first, and therein it was found written:
6These are the children of the province, who came up from the captivity of them that had been carried away, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned into Judea, every one into his own city.
7Who came with Zorobabel: Josue, Nehemias, Azarias, Raamias, Nahamani, Mardochai, Belsam, Mespharath, Begoia, Nahum, Baana. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8The children of Pharos, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9The children of Sephatia, three hundred seventy-two.
10The children of Area, six hundred fifty-two.
11The children of Phahath Moab of the children of Josue and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13The children of Zethua, eight hundred forty-five.
14The children of Zachai, seven hundred sixty.
15The children of Bannui, six hundred forty-eight.
16The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
17The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-seven.
19The children of Beguai, two thousand sixty-seven.
20The children of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.
21The children of Ater, children of Hezechias, ninety-eight.
22The children of Hasem, three hundred twenty-eight.
23The children of Besai, three hundred twenty-four.
24The children of Hareph, a hundred and twelve.
25The children of Gabaon, ninety-five.
26The children of Bethlehem, and Netupha, a hundred eighty-eight.
27The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight.
28The men of Bethazmoth, forty-two.
29The men of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seven hundred forty-three.
30The men of Rama and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
31The men of Machmas, a hundred twenty-two.
32The men of Bethel and Hai, a hundred twenty-three.
33The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.
34The men of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35The children of Harem, three hundred and twenty.
36The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
37The children of Lod, of Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
38The children of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39The priests: The children of Idaia in the house of Josue, nine hundred and seventy-three.
40The children of Emmer, one thousand fifty-two.
41The children of Phashur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42The children of Arem, one thousand and seventeen. The Levites:
43The children of Josue and Cedmihel, the sons
44Of Oduia, seventy-four. The singing men:
45The children of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight.
46The porters: The children of Sellum, the children of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai: a hundred thirty-eight.
47The Nathinites: The children of Soha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tebbaoth,
48The children of Ceros, the children of Siaa, the children of Phadon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Selmai,
49The children of Hanan, the children of Geddel, the children of Gaher,
50The children of Raaia, the children of Rasin, the children of Necoda,
51The children of Gezem, the children of Asa, the children of Phasea,
52The children of Besai, the children of Munim, the children of Nephussim,
53The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur,
54The children of Besloth, the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa,
55The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thema,
56The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha.
57The children of the servants of Solomon: The children of Sothai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharida,
58The children of Jahala, the children of Darcon, the children of Jeddel,
59The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of Phochereth, who was born of Sabaim, the son of Amon.
60All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon, three hundred ninety-two.
61And these are they that came up from Telmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Emmer; and could not shew the house of their fathers, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:
62The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Necoda, six hundred forty-two.
63And of the priests, The children of Habia, the children of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who took a wife of the daughters of Berzellai the Galaadite; and he was called by their name.
64These sought their writing in the record, and found it not: and they were cast out of the priesthood.
65And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eat of the Holies of Holies, until there stood up a priest learned and skilful.
66All the multitude as it were one man, forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
67Beside their men-servants and women-servants, who were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and among them singing men, and singing women, two hundred forty-five.
68Their horses, seven hundred thirty-six. Their mules, two hundred forty-five:
69Their camels, four hundred thirty-five. Their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
70And some of the heads of the families gave unto the work. Athersatha gave into the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty bowls, and five hundred and thirty garments for priests.
71And some of the heads of families gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.
72And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven garments for priests.
73And the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singing men, and the rest of the common people, and the Nathinites, and all Israel dwelt in their cities.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.