Nehemiah7

Nehemiah 7 details the administrative and security measures implemented in Jerusalem after the wall's completion, including the appointment of faithful leaders and gatekeepers. Recognizing the city's sparse population, Nehemiah then undertakes a comprehensive genealogical census, utilizing an existing register of those who first returned from Babylonian captivity. The chapter meticulously lists the families, priests, Levites, and temple servants, concluding with the total number of the congregation and their significant contributions.

Administration and Security Established

1
Now when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, ​
2
I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. ​
3
I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.” ​
4
Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. ​

Nehemiah Finds the First Returnees' Register

5
My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written therein: ​

The Register of Returnees

6
These are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city; ​
7
who came with Zerubbabel, Yeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: ​
8
The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
10
The children of Arah, six hundred fifty-two.
11
The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Yeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12
The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13
The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five.
14
The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
15
The children of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight.
16
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
17
The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18
The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven.
19
The children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven.
20
The children of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.
21
The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22
The children of Hashum, three hundred Twenty-eight.
23
The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four.
24
The children of Hariph, one hundred twelve.
25
The children of Gibeon, ninety-five.
26
The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight.
27
The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
28
The men of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two.
29
The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
30
The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
31
The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two.
32
The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three.
33
The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.
34
The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35
The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
36
The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
37
The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
38
The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.

Priests, Levites, and Temple Servants

39
The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Yeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. ​
40
The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
41
The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42
The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
43
The Levites: the children of Yeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. ​
44
The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight.
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, one hundred thirty-eight.
46
The Nethinim: 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 Reaiah, 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 Nephushesim,
53
the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54
the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55
the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
56
the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
57
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, 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 Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Amon.
60
All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.

Those with Disputed Heritage

61
These were those who 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: ​
62
The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two.
63
Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
64
These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. ​
65
The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. ​

Summary of the Population and Wealth

66
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, ​
67
besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.
68
Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
69
their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
70
Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments. ​
71
Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.
72
That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.

Settling in the Cities

73
So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities. ​

Study Notes for Nehemiah 7

Verse 1

The completion of the physical wall immediately necessitated the establishment of civil and spiritual infrastructure, including the appointment of gatekeepers (porters) and Temple personnel (singers and Levites).

Verse 2

Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother (cf. Neh 1:2), and Hananiah were placed in charge. Hananiah’s qualification—fearing God above many—highlights that spiritual devotion and character were prioritized over mere administrative skill.

Verse 3

The strict security measures—opening the gates late and requiring inhabitants to guard sections near their homes—were vital due to the constant threat of attack and the city’s low population density.

Verse 4

This verse explains the administrative problem Nehemiah faced: while the rebuilt wall secured a large area, the population was insufficient to adequately occupy and defend the city, necessitating a plan for resettlement.

Verse 5

Nehemiah attributes the idea of organizing the community by genealogy to divine inspiration. The register he found was the census taken of the Jews who returned under Zerubbabel 90 years earlier (recorded identically in Ezra 2).

Verse 6

This list establishes the legitimate population base of the restored community. Only those whose families were recorded as having returned from Babylonian captivity were considered true citizens of the province.

Verse 7

The list of leaders (identical to Ezra 2:2) provides historical continuity, linking Nehemiah’s generation to the initial post-exilic community that returned nearly a century earlier (c. 538 BC).

Verse 39

The priestly lists were crucial, as purity of lineage was required for Temple service. These four groups represent the major divisions of priests who returned to Judah.

Verse 43

The relatively small number of Levites (74) compared to the priests (4,289 total) shows that many Levites were reluctant to return to Jerusalem, possibly due to the meager provisions available.

Verse 46

The Nethinim ('given ones') were a class of non-Israelite temple servants responsible for menial labor, illustrating the diverse composition of the community supporting the Temple structure.

Verse 57

The descendants of Solomon’s servants were likely non-Israelite workers whose ancestors were assigned to serve the Temple during the monarchy, similar in function to the Nethinim.

Verse 61

These individuals could not produce documentary evidence of their Israelite ancestry, leading to their exclusion from the official census and specific communal rights.

Verse 64

Purity of lineage was paramount for the priesthood. Those whose records were missing were deemed ritually 'polluted' and barred from consuming the sacred offerings, pending divine resolution.

Verse 65

The Tirshatha (a Persian title for the governor, likely Nehemiah) deferred the final decision on these disputed families until the divine means of judgment—the Urim and Thummim—could be consulted by a high priest.

Verse 66

The total population of 42,360 matches the summary provided in Ezra 2:64, confirming that Nehemiah is using and validating the original register of the first returnees.

Verse 70

The leaders, beginning with the Tirshatha (Nehemiah), set an example by contributing substantial wealth (gold, silver, and garments) to the treasury, ensuring the resources needed for ongoing Temple and resettlement work.

Verse 73

This verse concludes the census and signals the successful organizational effort. The resettlement of the various groups in their ancestral cities sets the stage for the spiritual renewal and public reading of the Law in the following chapter.

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