Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah 7:1-4

The city being fortified, we have here, 1. A constant guard appointed, etc. 1-4. 2. A review of the people, in order to supply the city with inhabitants, etc. 5-23

1. NOW it came to pass when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the fingers, and the Levites were appointed. 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). 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. 4. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

The wall being finished, and the gates set up, the Levites, porters, and fingers, who had afflicted at the work, returned to their service in the temple; and Nehemiah being, as a generally supposed, obliged to return for a fusion to Babylon, (from whence he came afterwards, and for twelve years presided over the Jewish State) he endeavours to provide for their safety during his absence. His brother Hanani, and Hananiah, a man eminent for his fear of God, are appointed to take care of the city, which, though walled, was thinly peopled, and the houses in general lay in ruins; and as he had just cause to suspect the designs of the enemy, to prevent surprise, he appoints a guard of the inhabitants to watch the city by night, each against his own house; enjoins the governors to see the gates carefully shut at evening, and not to be opened till the sun had been some time risen, that if any ambush was laid near the city, it might be discovered. Note, (1.) They who are eminent for the fear of God above many, are the benefit to be trusted with any public charge, because they will make conscience of fulfilling it. (2.) They who would be always safe, must always be upon their guard. (3.) Every man’s family is his great concern: he hath need well watch over them night and day, if he would preserve them from the destroyer.

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. 6. There 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. 7. Who came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nehamani, Mordecai, Bilhan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baamah; the number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel, was also 1. 8. The children of Paruth, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. 9. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10. The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 11. The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 12. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 13. The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 14. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and therefore. 15. The children of Binnou, six hundred forty 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 therefore and seven. 19. The children of Bigvai, two thousand therefore and seven. 20. The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. 21. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 22. The children of Hathum, three hundred twenty and eight. 23. The children of Benai, three hundred twenty and four. 24. The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

twice. 25. The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. 26. The men of Beth-lehem and Nezopah, an hundred fourfcore and eight. 27. The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. 28. The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two. 29. The men of § Kirjathjearm, Cephirah, and Berceah, seven hundred forty and three. 30. The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 31. The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two. 32. The men of Beth-el and Ai, 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 forty and five. 37. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. 38. The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39. ¶ The priefs: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jefhua, nine hundred seventy and three. 40. The children of Innum, a thousand fifty and two. 41. The children of Pafhut, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 42. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 43. ¶ The Levites: the children of Jefhua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. 44. ¶ The fingers: the children of Afaph, an hundred forty and eight. 45. ¶ The potters: 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. 46. ¶ The Nethinims: the children of Ziba, the children of Haibupha, 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 Shalmai. 49. The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar. 50. The children of Reziah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda. 51. The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phafeah. 52. The children of Beiai, the children of Meunim, the children of § Nepiisfhefim. 53. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Hathur. 54. The children of Bazlith, the children of Munda, the children of Hartha. 55. The children of Barkon, the children of Sifera, the children of Tamah. 56. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57. ¶ The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sorai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida. 58. The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel. 59. The children of Shephatah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 61. ¶ And these were they which went up also from Tel-melah, Tel-haretha, Cherub, § Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, nor their feet, whether they were of Israel. 62. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. 63. ¶ And of the priefs: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzilai, which took one of the daughters of Barzilai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. 64. These fought their regifter among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: “therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 65. And the Tirthatha laid unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. 66. ¶ The whole congregation together, was forty and two thousand three hundred and threefcore. 67. Belize their manservants, 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. 68. Their hories, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: 69. Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty after. 70. ¶ And I some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work: “the Tirthatha gave to the treasure a thousand drama of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priefs garments. 71. And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work, twenty thousand drama of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of lilver. 72. And that which the rest of the people gave, two twenty thousand drama of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threefcore and seven priefs garments. 73. So the priefs, and the Levites, and the potters, and the fingers, 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. Babam Chail 136.

Nehemiah 7:5-73

Jerusalem being so thinly peopled, Nehemiah contrives to replenish it with inhabitants; for which purpose, having assembled the rulers and people, he reviews the old regifter of those who came out of captivity, that he might see what familes originally belonged to Jerusalem, but were now dispersed in the country, in order to bring them back to fix their dwelling there. He acknowledges the design was from God, to whom every gracious motion is to be skcribed: if any thing good be in our hearts, it is his work, and to him should the praise be given. The regifter here recited is nearly the same with that, Ezra xi. 6-5. The small variation in the numbers may be probably owing to that having been taken in Babylon, this, after they arrived at Jerusalem. Some perhaps that at first gave in their names to go, went back; whilst others, though they stuck out till the last, when they saw the camp morning, resolved to follow it. Now, There will be ever some that lay their hand to the plow, and look back: the Lord keep us from that number.—The contributions, v. 70. are so different from Ezra xi. 68, 69, that it seems not the same, but some additional offering made afterwards. They who have God’s work at heart, will not only give according to their power, but, as he increases their store, will renew their grateful tribute.