Nehemiah 7:73
Nehemiah 7:73 in Multiple Translations
So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.
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.
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.
So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the music-makers and some of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel, were living in their towns.
The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and Temple servants, as well as some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, went back to live in their specific towns. By the seventh month the Israelites were living in their towns,
And the Priestes, and Leuites, and the porters and the singers and the rest of the people and the Nethinims, and all Israel dwelt in their cities: and when the seuenth moneth came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
And they dwell — the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel — in their cities, and the seventh month cometh, and the sons of Israel [are] in their cities.
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.
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.
And 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.
So the priests, the other descendants of Levi who helped the priests, the temple guards, the musicians, the temple workers, and many ordinary people, who were all Israelis, started to live in the towns and cities of Judea where their ancestors had lived.
Study Notes — Nehemiah 7:73
Context — Offerings by the Exiles
73So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra 2:70–1 | — |
Nehemiah 7:73 Summary
[This verse tells us that after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, the different groups of Israelites, including priests, Levites, and singers, were able to settle back into their own towns. This was a time of great celebration and rest for the Israelites, as they had been working hard to rebuild their city and their lives. As we read in Psalm 107:41, God can take people who are broken and struggling and give them a new home and a new sense of purpose. This verse reminds us that God is a God of restoration and renewal, who can take the broken pieces of our lives and make something new and beautiful out of them, as promised in Isaiah 61:4.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the Israelites to have settled in their own towns by the seventh month?
The seventh month in the Hebrew calendar corresponds to our September or October, and it marks the time when the Israelites would have been celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, as commanded in Leviticus 23:34, indicating a time of rest and celebration after the long period of rebuilding and restoration under Nehemiah's leadership.
Why are the different groups of people, such as priests, Levites, and gatekeepers, mentioned separately in this verse?
The mention of these different groups highlights the diversity and complexity of the Israelite community, and shows that all of them were involved in the process of settling back into their towns, much like the different parts of the body of Christ working together in harmony, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.
What can we learn from the fact that the Israelites were able to settle in their towns after the long period of exile and rebuilding?
This event shows us that God is a God of restoration and renewal, who can take a people who have been broken and scattered and bring them back together again, as promised in Deuteronomy 30:3 and Ezekiel 37:21-22, and that He is faithful to keep His promises to His people.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Nehemiah?
This verse serves as a conclusion to the story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, which is the main focus of the first part of the book of Nehemiah, and it sets the stage for the rest of the book, which deals with the spiritual and moral renewal of the Israelite community, as seen in Nehemiah 8:1-18 and Nehemiah 9:1-38.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which God has restored and renewed me in my own life, and how can I give thanks for those blessings?
- In what ways can I, like the Israelites, work together with others to build up the body of Christ and to fulfill God's plans and purposes?
- What are some areas of my life where I feel broken or scattered, and how can I trust in God's power and promise to restore and renew me?
- How can I, like Nehemiah and the Israelites, prioritize the things of God and seek to live a life that is pleasing to Him, even in the midst of challenging circumstances?