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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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
Nehemiah 7
7
1 Now when the wall had been built and I had erected the doors and appointed the gatekeepers, singers, and the Levites, 2I gave command over Jerusalem to my brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the citadel. For he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. 3I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While they are standing guard let them shut and fasten the doors. And appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his post and another opposite his house.” 4The city was widespread and large, but the people in it were few and no houses were rebuilt.
Lists of the Exiles Who Returned
5Then my God put into my heart to assemble the nobles, the prefects, and the people to be enrolled. I found the book of the genealogy of those who first came back, and I found this written upon it:
6These are the people of the province who came up from captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each one to his city. 7These came with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8the descendants#Or “sons” of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two. 9The descendants#Or “sons” of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two. 10The descendants#Or “sons” of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two. 11The descendants#Or “sons” of Pahath-Moab, of the descendants#Or “sons” of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 12The descendants#Or “sons” of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. 13The descendants#Or “sons” of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five. 14The descendants#Or “sons” of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty. 15The descendants#Or “sons” of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight. 16The descendants#Or “sons” of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight. 17The descendants#Or “sons” of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two. 18The descendants#Or “sons” of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven. 19The descendants#Or “sons” of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven. 20The descendants#Or “sons” of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five. 21The descendants#Or “sons” of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. 22The descendants#Or “sons” of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight. 23The descendants#Or “sons” of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four. 24The descendants#Or “sons” of Hariph, one hundred and twelve. 25The descendants#Or “sons” of Gibeon, ninety-five. 26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight. 27The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight. 28The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two. 29The men of Kiriath-Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three. 30The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. 31The men of Micmash, one hundred and twenty-two. 32The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three. 33The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. 34The people#Or “sons” of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. 35The people#Or “sons” of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36The people#Or “sons” of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. 37The people#Or “sons” of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one. 38The people#Or “sons” of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39The priests: The descendants#Or “sons” of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three. 40The descendants#Or “sons” of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two. 41The descendants#Or “sons” of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven. 42The descendants#Or “sons” of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
43The Levites: the descendants#Or “sons” of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the descendants#Or “sons” of Hodaviah, seventy-four. 44The singers: the descendants#Or “sons” of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight. 45The gatekeepers: the descendants#Or “sons” of Shallum, the descendants#Or “sons” of Ater, the descendants#Or “sons” of Talmon, the descendants#Or “sons” of Akkub, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hatita, the descendants#Or “sons” of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.
46The temple servants: the descendants#Or “sons” of Ziha, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hasupha, the descendants#Or “sons” of Tabbaoth, 47the descendants#Or “sons” of Keros, the descendants#Or “sons” of Siaha, the descendants#Or “sons” of Padon, 48the descendants#Or “sons” of Lebanah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hagaba, the descendants#Or “sons” of Shalmai, 49the descendants#Or “sons” of Hanan, the descendants#Or “sons” of Giddel, the descendants#Or “sons” of Gahar, 50the descendants#Or “sons” of Reaiah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Rezin, the descendants#Or “sons” of Nekoda, 51the descendants#Or “sons” of Gazzam, the descendants#Or “sons” of Uzza, the descendants#Or “sons” of Paseah, 52the descendants#Or “sons” of Besai, the descendants#Or “sons” of Meunim, the descendants#Or “sons” of Nephushesim, 53the descendants#Or “sons” of Bakbuk, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hakupha, the descendants#Or “sons” of Harhur, 54the descendants#Or “sons” of Bazlith, the descendants#Or “sons” of Mehida, the descendants#Or “sons” of Harsha, 55the descendants#Or “sons” of Barkos, the descendants#Or “sons” of Sisera, the descendants#Or “sons” of Temah, 56the descendants#Or “sons” of Neziah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hatipha.
57The descendants#Or “sons” of Solomon’s servants: the descendants#Or “sons” of Sotai, the descendants#Or “sons” of Sophereth, the descendants#Or “sons” of Perida, 58the descendants#Or “sons” of Jaala, the descendants#Or “sons” of Darkon, the descendants#Or “sons” of Giddel, 59the descendants#Or “sons” of Shephatiah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hattil, the descendants#Or “sons” of Pochereth-Hazzebaim, the descendants#Or “sons” of Amon.
60All the temple servants and the descendants#Or “sons” of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.
61These were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they were not able to prove their ancestral houses or their descent, whether they were from Israel: 62the descendants#Or “sons” of Delaiah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Tobiah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. 63And from the priests: the descendants#Or “sons” of Hobaiah, the descendants#Or “sons” of Hakkoz, the descendants#Or “sons” of Barzillai (who had taken as a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64These sought their record among those enrolled in the genealogy, but it was not found there, so they were excluded as unclean from the priesthood. 65So the governor said to them that they could not eat the most holy food until a priest could come with Urim and Thummim.
66All of the assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67besides their servants and female slaves—these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And the male and female singers were two hundred and forty-five,#After this verse, some versions add verse 68: “Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six; their mules two hundred and forty-five”; compare Ezra 2:66 69#Nehemiah 7:69–73 in the English Bible is 7:68–72 in the Hebrew Bible there were four hundred and thirty-five camels and six thousand seven hundred and twenty male donkeys.
70Now some from the heads of the families#Literally “fathers” gave to the work. The governor gave to the storehouse one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priestly tunics. 71Now some of the heads of the families#Literally “fathers” gave to the storehouse of the work twenty thousand gold darics and two thousand two hundred silver minas. 72And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand silver minas, and sixty-seven priestly tunics.
73So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their cities. When the seventh month came, the Israelites#Literally “sons/children of Israel” were in their cities.
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