Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 7

Introduction

Nehemiah Chapter 7

Nehemiah 7:1 "Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,"

There are a number of reasons why the Levites would keep the gates of the city. One of the reasons was because Jerusalem was the city of God. It was the holy city. Another very good reason was because after the Babylonian captivity, about half of those who returned to Jerusalem were Levites. We must remember, again, that not all Levites were priests, but they were all in the service of the LORD in some capacity, or other. Now, we see why Nehemiah stayed longer than the time it took to build the wall. He was governor, and he was taking care of the city, until it got started again. The people needed a strong leader. The porters and the singers served in the temple, and they were Levites, as well.

Nehemiah 7:2 "That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he [was] a faithful man, and feared God above many."

The similarity in the names, here, is a little confusing, but these were two men who would rule together. Hanani seemed to be the brother of Nehemiah. The reason for making Hananiah one of the rulers was a very good one. His main attribute was that he feared God. He, probably, had worked under Nehemiah before, and Nehemiah knew that he was trustworthy. A person who truly is in correct relationship with God, so much that they fear him, would be faithful.

Nehemiah 7:3 "And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar [them]: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one [to be] over against his house."

The gates were to be closed and barred at night. They were opened in the middle of the day, but even then, there would be guards closely watching everyone who entered and left the city. Nehemiah knew of the hatred Sanballat, and others like him, had for Jerusalem. Nehemiah was taking no chances.

Nehemiah 7:4 "Now the city [was] large and great: but the people [were] few therein, and the houses [were] not builded."

We must remember, that Jerusalem had been a large city. The wall covered 4 miles around it. The remnant of people, who came back from captivity in Babylon, were extremely few compared to the space in the city. They must be extremely careful that the enemy did not get within the walls. Jerusalem had been totally destroyed, when the Babylonians attacked them and took the captives. Now, they had not finished rebuilding their homes.

Nehemiah 7:5 "And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,"

There had been some difficulty with the people being faithful during the building of the wall. Perhaps, it was caused by some who had crept in, who were not in the genealogy register. God had put it in the heart of Nehemiah to check this register to see who were Hebrews, and who were not.

Nehemiah 7:6 "These [are] the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;"

This is an accounting of who is left of Judah, in Jerusalem, and the surrounding towns.

Nehemiah 7:7 "Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, [I say], of the men of the people of Israel [was this];"

Zerubbabel had brought the first group back from captivity. He brought the largest number of the people back to their homeland. We find in the list of names of this group that Ezra had given, one addition by Nehemiah of Nahamani. These were the leaders. Some of the names are spelled a little differently, but they are the same people.

Nehemiah 7:8 "The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two."

Nehemiah 7:9 "The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two."

Nehemiah 7:10 "The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two."

Nehemiah 7:11 "The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred [and] eighteen."

Nehemiah 7:12 "The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four."

Nehemiah 7:13 "The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five."

Nehemiah 7:14 "The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore."

Nehemiah 7:15 "The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight."

Nehemiah 7:16 "The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight."

Nehemiah 7:17 "The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two."

Nehemiah 7:18 "The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven."

Adonikam had one more, than in the earlier list.

Nehemiah 7:19 "The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven."

Nehemiah 7:20 "The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five."

Nehemiah 7:22 "The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. “

Nehemiah 7:23 "The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four."

Nehemiah 7:24 "The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve."

Hariph is spoken of as Jorah in Ezra. Beginning with the verse below, the cities of the people who are registered is given. The families were listed before.

Nehemiah 7:25 "The children of Gibeon, ninety and five."

Nehemiah 7:26 "The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight."

Nehemiah 7:27 "The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight."

Nehemiah 7:28 "The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two."

Nehemiah 7:29 "The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three."

"Kirjath-jearim" means city of forests. We will continue on with the people returning to their cities.

Nehemiah 7:30 "The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one."

Nehemiah 7:31 "The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two."

Nehemiah 7:32 "The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundred twenty and three."

Nehemiah 7:33 "The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two."

There had been no other Nebo mentioned. Some of the scholars believe the other is speaking of Acher.

Nehemiah 7:34 "The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four."

Nehemiah 7:35 "The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty."

Nehemiah 7:36 "The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five."

Nehemiah 7:37 "The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one."

Nehemiah 7:38 "The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty."

All of the above were listed according to their localities.

Nehemiah 7:39 "The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three."

Nehemiah 7:40 "The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two."

Nehemiah 7:41 "The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven."

Nehemiah 7:42 "The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen."

These are a listing of their priests according to their families.

Nehemiah 7:43 "The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, [and] of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four."

Nehemiah 7:44 "The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight."

Nehemiah 7:45 "The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight."

This above, is a listing of Levites that were not priests, and yet, worked in the temple as singers and porters. All of the Levites were in the service of the Lord, but not all were priests.

Nehemiah 7:46 "The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,"

Nehemiah 7:47 "The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,"

Nehemiah 7:48 " The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,"

Nehemiah 7:49 "The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,"

Nehemiah 7:50 "The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,"

Nehemiah 7:51 "The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,"

Nehemiah 7:52 "The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,"

Nehemiah 7:53 "The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,"

Nehemiah 7:54 "The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,"

Nehemiah 7:55 "The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,"

Nehemiah 7:56 "The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha."

The Nethinims did the servile work in the temple. The name Akkub, listed in Ezra as a part of the Nethinims, is omitted in this list.

Nehemiah 7:57 "The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,"

Nehemiah 7:58 "The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,"

Nehemiah 7:59 "The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon."

Nehemiah 7:60 "All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, [were] three hundred ninety and two."

It is interesting to note that the Nethinims and Solomon’s servants’ children were not counted as individual families. Perhaps, they were counted together, because they were all to serve, some in the temple and some for the kings.

Nehemiah 7:61 "And these [were] they which went up [also] from Telmelah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, nor their seed, whether they [were] of Israel."

We decided in our study on Ezra that these were, probably, those who had intermarried and lost their genealogy connections.

Nehemiah 7:62 "The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two."

Nehemiah 7:63 "And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took [one] of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name." Most of these were, probably, daughters of the Hebrews, including daughters of the priests who took the name of their husbands who were not listed as Hebrews.

Nehemiah 7:64 "These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood."

The priests that married the heathens and had been removed from the register were no longer classified as priests. Priests were strictly forbidden to marry a non Hebrew.

Nehemiah 7:65 "And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood [up] a priest with Urim and Thummim."

The Urim and Thummim was a pocket behind the breastplate of the high priest. God spoke to the people through this Urim and Thummim. This was saying they must not eat of the most holy things, until they had heard from God.

Nehemiah 7:66 "The whole congregation together [was] forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,"

This number was extremely small compared to the number who had settled Judah before their fall to Babylon. It is remarkable that the number given, here, is the same as the number in Ezra. The number is 42,360.

Nehemiah 7:67 "Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom [there were] seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women."

These were not included in the servile workers given earlier. These singers were not of the Levitical tribe here. These singing men and women were in addition to the family of Asaph.

Nehemiah 7:68 "Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:"

Nehemiah 7:69 "[Their] camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses."

These were the animals they brought with them. There were not enough of them for everyone to ride. We may safely assume they carried the possessions of the people, and were used to carry those for one reason or another who could not walk.

Nehemiah 7:70 "And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments."

Tirshatha was the title of the governor of Judaea under the Persians. This was a title that had been given Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 7:71 "And [some] of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver."

The heads of the families, along with Nehemiah, gave greatly to the treasures that were carried into Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 7:72 "And [that] which the rest of the people gave [was] twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments." This was speaking of the average Hebrew and what they gave collectively.

Nehemiah 7:73 "So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel [were] in their cities."

This lists the various classes of people who went back to their homeland led by Zerubbabel. Their seventh month would be like our October. This was a several month journey. When they arrived back in their homeland, they would have to begin again to re-build. Ezra brought the second group a little later, and Nehemiah came with a few at an even later time. The lesson that stands out in this, to me, for us is it does not matter what station in life we have. We will all go home to heaven together. Our names must be written in the Lamb’s book of life, before we will be accepted into our homeland. These Hebrews had to have their genealogy correct to stay in the homeland. They traveled together, as we travel together in life. All of them take their rightful places in the service of their LORD for this to work out. Not everyone could be a priest. This is the way it is in a church, as well. We all have to take our rightful places in God’s work for the church to succeed.

Nehemiah 7 Questions

1. What was done, after the wall was built and the doors set up?

2. What were some of the reasons for the Levites keeping the gates of the city of Jerusalem?

3. Not all Levites were priests, but all were in the __________ of the LORD.

4. Why did Nehemiah stay after the wall was finished?

5. Who was Nehemiah’s brother?

6. Who ruled Jerusalem with Nehemiah’s brother?

7. What kind of man was he?

8. When were the gates of Jerusalem to be opened?

9. When they were opened, what did they do for precautions?

10. How large was the city itself?

11. The people were ________ for that much area.

12. Why were the houses not built?

13. What did God put in Nehemiah’s heart to do?

14. What could have been a reason for checking the record of the genealogy of the people?

15. Who had carried them away captive to Babylon?

16. Who led the first group returning to their homeland?

17. What does "Kirjath-jearim" mean?

18. What do most scholars believe is the other Nebo, mentioned in Nehemiah 7:33?

19. Nehemiah 7:39-42 is a list of the __________.

20. What did the Nethinims do?

21. Why were Solomon’s servants and the Nethinims listed together?

22. Those, in Nehemiah 7:61, are whom?

23. What happened to priests, who married heathen women?

24. They should not eat of the most holy things, until what happened?

25. How many were in the total congregation?

26. How many animals were carried back with them?

27. Who gave to the treasures?

28. Nehemiah 6 L73 is a listing of what?

29. What is a lesson Christians can receive from this lesson?

30. We must all take our ___________ places in God’s work for the church to succeed.

Verse 1

Neh 7:1

Nehemiah 7:1

NEHEMIAH PREPARES TO RETURN TO BABYLON;

TACKLES THE PROBLEM OF REPOPULATING JERUSALEM THE SECURITY OF THE CITY

"Now it came to pass when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the singers, and the Levites were appointed."

The singers and the Levites are here named along with the keepers of the city gates; and, because that was something of an unusual assignment for Levites and singers, the critics promptly claim that their mention here is, "A mistaken addition by the Chronicler." Of course, Nehemiah is the author here, not the mythical `chronicler’ of the radical critics, who, in their view was not merely incompetent, but an unqualified liar as well. This view regarding this verse was long ago disputed and disproved; but true to the critical `style,’ succeeding generations continue to parrot their old shibboleths. Hamrick, for example, wrote that, the addition of singers and Levites to the gatekeepers was due to, "Confusion," on the part of the author. There was no possibility whatever that Nehemiah was confused about whom he appointed as gatekeepers of Jerusalem.

And why were singers and Levites needed and appointed to this work? They were loyal to God and to Nehemiah; and the single largest group who populated the city at that time were the priests; and they were not loyal. Nehemiah was preparing to return to Persia, and he was taking the utmost precautions to leave Jerusalem’s security intact.

Williamson refuted the usual critical claim that these words regarding the singers and Levites `are a gloss,’ adding that, "These were emergency arrangements only." F.C. Cook also agreed that the singers and Levites were assigned to this work, "Because their experience (as guardians of the Temple) pointed them out as the fittest persons for this task."

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 7:1. The doors could not be hung until the wall was completed to its full height. Thus the order of the services would be as it is stated in this verse. The porters were the janitors or gatekeepers, and they could not be appointed to their several places until the gates or doors were ready for service. The singers were expected to do part of the religious exercises. That was according to an institution of David (1 Chronicles 25:1; 2 Chronicles 35:15). The Levites were the original ones to have the supervision of the sacrificial part of the services. All of these appointments were made by Nehemiah when the building work was completed.

Verse 2

Neh 7:2

Nehemiah 7:2

"I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many."

Hanani here is the same person who brought Nehemiah the sad news about the state of Jerusalem while Nehemiah was still cupbearer to king Artaxerxes, Scholars are in disagreement on whether there is one man mentioned in this verse or two. As the translators have it, there are clearly two persons, Nehemiah’s brother, and another person who was in charge of the castle. The RSV and most of the scholars we have consulted consider that two men are named. However, Bowman, in The Interpreter’s Bible, wrote that, "Hanani and Hananiah are identical names, the former an abbreviation of the latter; and, obviously, the and joining the two names is explicative." Nehemiah’s use of the singular pronoun he in the final clause of the verse supports Bowman’s view.

Despite this, we are unwilling to set aside the plain statements in the ASV and the RSV denoting two persons, not merely one. "He put his brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle (on the north side of the temple, in charge of the city)." "The high religious principle, as well as the patriotic spirit of these two men recommended them as being preeminently qualified for being invested with an official trust of such vast importance." Supporting the apparent conviction of the translators of ASV and RSV, is the fact that Jerusalem was officially divided into two districts (Nehemiah 3:12), and that the custom of dual directorships of cities and districts was common (See also Nehemiah 3:18).

"It is believed that Nehemiah was preparing to return to Persia, and wanted to leave a dependable person in charge."

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 7:2. Two men are named yet a singular pronoun is used. The idea is that Hanani was the principal one considered, and Hananiah was associated with him as a helper. The second man had been in charge of the palace. The reason given for the appointment of Nehemiah’s brother is significant; it was because he feared God. What a wonderful motive for selecting a man to have an important work. No personal preference or feeling of relationship entered into the consideration. If a man fears God more than others fear Him, that shows a qualification that outweighs all others.

Verse 3

Neh 7:3

Nehemiah 7:3

"And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand on guard, let the doors be shut, and bar ye them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one his watch, and every one to be over against his house."

"Let not the gates ... be opened till the sun is hot." "The gates of Oriental cities were usually opened at sunrise," but Nehemiah ordered them to be opened somewhat later. Furthermore, "The gates were to be closed in the evenings prior to the departure of the guards." After the closing of the gates, watchmen were to be placed along the wall, "every man over against his own house." As Cundall noted, "This is another example of Nehemiah’s wise understanding of human nature."

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 7:3. The gates were not to be opened until it was far into the day. While waiting for that hour to come they must be guarded. That is the meaning of while they stand by. Since it would be daylight the public would be stirring, and hence the gates should be secured. The porters were therefore ordered to see that they were shut and barred. In addition to the men on duty right at the gates, the inhabitants on the inside of the city were to be called upon for guard duty. Each man was to be assigned that part of the wall nearest his own home.

Verse 4

Neh 7:4

Neh 7:4

"Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded."

This verse is actually the key to the inclusion at once of that long list of genealogies. Jerusalem was in desperate need of more inhabitants, for it was far too large a city for the few who lived there; and "Nehemiah, at once, laid plans for populating the city with PURE JEWS; and the register of those who had returned with Zerubbabel becomes his basis for determining the purity of genealogy."

And the houses were not builded. "This must be understood in a relative sense, because some houses are referred to in Nehemiah 7:3."

E.M. Zerr:

Neh 7:4. This verse explains the precautions required in the preceding ones. The area enclosed by the wall was large and not many residences had yet been built. For that reason it was necessary to make wise distribution of the forces available. After all the attempts at preventing the work while it was in progress, Nehemiah did not wish to take any chances for violence now that the work had been completed.

Verse 5

Neh 7:5

Nehemiah 7:5

"And my God put it into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of them that came up at the first, and 50found written therein:"

"God put it into my heart." Nehemiah always gave God credit for whatever he did, giving all the glory to God.

"The genealogy of them that came up at first." This can be understood only as a reference to them that came up with Zerubbabel, a number approaching 50,000. Older and more recent scholars alike affirm the identity of the following list with that in the Book of Ezra. "This list is approximately the same as that of the exiles who returned under Zerubbabel; and it must have been found by Nehemiah in the archives in Jerusalem." "Except for Nehemiah 7:70-72, this register is identical with that in Ezra 2:1-70."

Nothing is of less interest to current readers than these genealogical registers in the O.T.; but the importance of them is great indeed. The great promise of God looking to the redemption of fallen humanity, and the bringing into our world of the Dayspring from On High, specifically tied that promise to the "Seed (singular) of Abraham" (Genesis 12:3); and when Mary cradled the Son of God in the Bethelehem manger, it was absolutely necessary that all men should have been certain that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed that Seed. It was the concern and diligence of men like Nehemiah who preserved and honored the genealogies of the people that were absolutely the prerequisites of Christian confidence in the identity of Jesus Christ.

We shall have little or no comment on this register of names.

E.M. Zerr:

Verse 5. My God put it into my heart means that God spoke to Nehemiah and directed him to do the thing described. The importance of keeping the line of the generations as pure as possible was the purpose of all such transactions. Had the Jews never been taken from their own country, the danger of blood mixture would not have been so great. But the 70 years of captivity, and the period of almost a century that followed, had brought them into contact with the heathen. The precaution that Nehemiah was told to take had been followed out by Zerubbabel 90 years before, and now it was deemed welt to repeat the investigation. For this purpose Nehemiah summoned a gathering of the people including the leaders among them. All of these people were to be "checked" according to the official register. At this time Nehemiah found the list that had been made at the first, and the examination was to be made according to that.

Verses 6-73

Neh 7:6-73

Nehemiah 7:6-73

"These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity of them that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and that returned unto Jerusalem and to Judah, every one into his city; who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamaiah, Nahamani,, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

"The number of the men of the people of Israel: the children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy two. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. The children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve. The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight. The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight. The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two. The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one. The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two. The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty and three. The men of the other Nebo, a hundred fifty and two. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty and four. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

"The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

"The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty and eight. The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred forty and eight.

"The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

"The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Amon. All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

"And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses nor their seed, whether they were of Israel: The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. And of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummin.

"The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, besides their man-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules two hundred forty and five; their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

"And some from among the heads of fathers’ houses gave unto the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver. And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver and threescore and seven priests’ garments.

"So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. (And when the seventh month was come, the children of Israel were in their cities)."

The final parenthesis here is included as a part of Nehemiah 8 in our version.

For our comments on a number of things regarding this list, please see the parallel account in Ezra. There is nothing further which we wish to add here.

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 7:6-73. These verses are an exact reproduction of those at Ezra 2:1-70. As I have commented at some length on the verses at that place, the student is asked to turn to it for his information on this paragraph.