Nehemiah 7

Nehemia hangeth on the doors of the city-gates, appoointeth the ministers of the Temple, and setteth a strong watch at the city gates, and throughout the whole city, verse 1. Etc. Considereth by Gods instinct and direction, of a way how to furnish Jerusalem with a sufficient store of inhabitants, and to reduce them into good order, for which purpose he findeth good, first of all to assemble all the people together, and to view the genealogies of these that were come up with Zerubbabel out of the captivity, which he findeth, and repeateth the same here again, 4. The free-will-offerings of the Rulers and of the people, 70.

1. Moreover it came to pass when all the wall was built, that I reared up the doors [In the city-gates. Compare above chap.6.1. and 3.on vers.3.] and the Porters, and the Singers, and the Levites were appointed; [to wit, upon their officers and charges.]

2. And I gave charge unto my brother Hanani, and Hanaja the commander of the Fort at Jerusalem, [Oth. over, or, concerning Jerusalem, to wit, he gave him charge] for he was a man of faithfulness, [that is he was in deed and in truth a faithful man. See of the like singnification of this particle as, Gen.27.12. and the annotate. There] and fearing God above many.

3. And I said unto them; let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened, until the Sun be hot; [That is, until it be broad or high day] and whilest they stand by, let them shut the doors, [to wit, in the Evening] then do ye handle them: [while they etc. To wit, the porters, or those to whom the opening an shutting of the gates was committed; or thus: when they stand by shall have shut the gates, then do ye feel them, to see whether they be shut fast or no, and that because of the multitude of enemies both without and within the city. Oth. whilest they are yet up: to wit, the people] and let watches be set, inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and every one over against his house.

4. Now the city was large in space [Or compass. Heb.hands. See Gen.34.21. Judg.18.10. Isa.22.18. with the annotate.] and great, but the people within it [Hebr. in the midst of it] were few, and the houses were not builded. [that is, they were not every where, nor fully builded.]

5. So my God gave into mine heart, to gather together the Nobles, [Hebr. the white (ones). See above chap.2.on v.16.] and the Rulers, and the people, [that is, to cause them to come up from all places against the first day of the seventh month, to do that which is recorded in the five following chapters] for to reckon the Families of old pertained to Jerusalem, that so the number of the inhabitants might be increased, and others, if need were, might be added to them] And I found the genealogy [Hebr. the book of the genealogy] of those that were come up at the first, [viz. Those that were come up out of captivity with Prince Zerubbabel in the reign of king Cores, or Cyrus] and found written therein (thus):

6. These are the children of that country that were went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezer king of Babel had carried away; and (which) returned to Jerusalem, and to Juda, every one unto his city: [See of this Register, Ezra 2.on v.2. and the other annotations there on that whole chapter.

7. Who came with Zerubbabel, Jesua, Nehemia, Azarja, Raamja, Nehamani, Mordechai, bilsan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, (and) Baena. (This) is the number of the men of the people of Israel:

8. The children of Parhos were two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

9. The children of Sephatjaa, three hundred seventy and two.

10. The children of Aruch, six hundred fifty and two.

11. The children of Pahath-Moab, of the children of Jesua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

12. The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty and four.

13. The children of Zatthu, eight hundred fourty and five.

14. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

15. The children of Binnui, six hundred fourty and eight.

16. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

17. The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.

18. The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

19. The children of Bigvai, two hundred threescore and seven.

20. The children of Adia, six hundred fifty and five.

21. The children of Ater, of Hikkia, ninety eight.

22. The children of Hasum, three hundred twenty and eight.

23. The chidren of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

24. The children of Harph, an hundred twelve.

25. The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.

26. The men of Beth-lehem and Netopha, an hundred fourscore and eight.

27. The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

28. The men of Beth-Azmaveth, fourty and two.

29. The men of Kirjat-Jearim, Chephira, and Beeroth, seven hundred fourty and three.

30. The men of Rama and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.

31. The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

32. The men of Beth-el and Ati, an hundred twenty and three.

33. The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.

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

35. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

36. The children of Jericho, three hundred fourty and five.

37. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.

38. The children of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39. The Priests. The children of Jedaja, of the house of Jesua, nine hundred seventy and three.

40. The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

41. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred fourty and seven.

42. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

43. The Levites. The children of Jesua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodeva, seventy and four.

44. The Singers. The children of Asaph, an hundred fourty and eight.

45. The Porters. The children of Salhum, the children of Ater, the children of Hakkub, the children of Hattita, the children of Sobai, an hundred thirty and eight.

46. The Nethinims. 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 Roaja, 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 Nephussim, [Oth. Nephischesim.]

53. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harbur,

54. The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehide, the children of Harsa.

55. The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,

56. The children of Nesiah, the children of Hatipha.

57. The children of Salomons servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,

58. The children of Jaela, the children of Darkon, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel.

59. The children of Sephatja, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zeboim, the children of Amon,

60. All the Nethinims, and the children of Salomons servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

61. Also these went up from Thelmelah, Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their Fathers house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.

62. The children of Delaja, the children of Tobia, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fourty and two.

63. And of the Priests, the children of Habaja, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who had taken a wise of the daughters of Barzilla the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

64. These sought their writing, desiring to reckon their pedigree, but it was not found: Therefore were they as polluted removed from the Priesthood.

65. And Hertirsatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things: [Hebr. holiness of holinesses] till there stood up a Priest with Urim and Thummim.

66. This whole congregation together was fourty and two thousand, three hundred and threescore.

67. Besides their servants and their maids, they were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: And they had two hundred and five and fourty singing-men and singing women.

68. Their horses seven hundred thirty and six, their mules two hundred fourty and five:

69. Camels four hundred thirty and five, asses six thousand; even hundred and twenty.

70. Now a part of the heads of the Fathers gave unto the work: [Hitherto hath been repeated the Register, whereof mention was formerly made, Ezra 2.on vers.2. Now followeth what was done under the government of Nehemia towards the advancement of Religion and the worship of God, according to the good example mentioned, Ezra 2:68. etc.] Hattirsatha [that is, Nehemia himself, as below chap.8.9. and 10.2. See further, Ezra 2.on vers.63.] gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, [of drams, see Ezra 2.on vers.69.] fifty sprinkling-basins, five hundred and thirty Priests garments.

71. And (other) of the heads of the Fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of Gold, and in silver two thousand and two hundred pounds. [of pounds, see Ezr 2.on vers.60.]

72. And that which the rest of the people gave, was twenty thousand drams of gold, and silver two thousand mina’s, [of mina’s, see Ezra .on v.69.] and threescore and seven Priests garments.

73. And the Priests, and the Levites, and the Porters, and the Singers, and (some) of the people, [see Ezra 2.on vers.70.] and the Nethinims, and all Israel [that were returned out of the Babylonish captivity] dwelt in their cities.