Nehemiah 7:26

KJV

The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.

KJV (with Strong's)

The men {H582} of Bethlehem {H1035} and Netophah {H5199}, an hundred {H3967} fourscore {H8084} and eight {H8083}.

Complete Jewish Bible

people of Beit-Lechem and N'tofah 188

Berean Standard Bible

the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;

American Standard Version

The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 7:26, part of a meticulous post-exilic census, records the number of men from the towns of Bethlehem and Netophah who returned from Babylonian captivity to Judah. This verse, embedded within a larger register of returnees, underscores the meticulous administrative efforts undertaken by Nehemiah to re-establish the community and populate Jerusalem after the wall's completion. It highlights the importance of identity, lineage, and the tangible restoration of God's people to their promised land, emphasizing God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 7 immediately follows the completion of Jerusalem's walls in Nehemiah 6, a monumental achievement that secured the city physically. With the physical infrastructure in place, Nehemiah's focus shifts to the social and spiritual rebuilding of the community. Chapter 7 serves as a detailed administrative record, a census or register of those who returned from Babylonian exile. This list is nearly identical to the one found in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The First Returnees"), indicating its importance as an authoritative record of the founding members of the post-exilic community. The inclusion of specific numbers for each family and town, like Bethlehem and Netophah in Nehemiah 7:26, underscores the meticulous nature of the record-keeping and the significance of each individual and family in the restoration project. This census was crucial for assigning roles, organizing the community, and ensuring the purity of the priesthood and temple service.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return from Babylonian exile was a pivotal moment in Israelite history, marking the end of a 70-year period of judgment and the beginning of a new era of restoration. The Persian Empire, under King Artaxerxes, had granted Nehemiah permission to return and rebuild Jerusalem ([Nehemiah 2](/nehemiah/2 "Nehemiah 2 - Nehemiah's Mission")). The people listed in this census were the descendants of those who had been deported by Nebuchadnezzar in the early 6th century BCE. Their return was not merely a migration but a fulfillment of divine prophecy ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Return")). Culturally, lineage and tribal identity were paramount in ancient Israel, serving as the basis for land ownership, religious roles, and social structure. A census like this was vital for re-establishing these structures and ensuring that only those with legitimate Israelite heritage participated in the rebuilding of the nation and the temple. Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of King David ([1 Samuel 17:12](/1_samuel/17-12 "1 Samuel 17:12 - David from Bethlehem")), and Netophah, a nearby village, were significant Judean towns, and their inhabitants' return was a symbolic reclaiming of the land.
* **Key Themes:** Nehemiah 7, including Nehemiah 7:26, contributes to several overarching themes in the books of Ezra-Nehemiah. Firstly, **Divine Faithfulness and Restoration** is evident, as God fulfills His promises to bring His people back to the land after exile. Secondly, the emphasis on **Identity and Lineage** highlights the importance of ethnic and religious purity in the post-exilic community, ensuring that the covenant people remained distinct. Thirdly, **Order and Organization** are central, demonstrating Nehemiah's administrative genius and the necessity of structure for a thriving community, whether in ancient Jerusalem or the church today. Finally, the meticulous record-keeping underscores the **Historical Accuracy and Reliability** of the biblical narrative, affirming that these were real people and real events in God's ongoing redemptive plan. The returnees, including the men from Bethlehem and Netophah, were the living testament to God's hand in history.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bethlehem (בֵּית לֶחֶם, _Beit Lechem'_):** Literally meaning "house of bread," Bethlehem was a historically significant town in Judah, most famously known as the birthplace of King David ([1 Samuel 17:12](/1_samuel/17-12 "1 Samuel 17:12 - David's Hometown")) and, prophetically, the Messiah ([Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Messiah's Birthplace")). Its inclusion in the census signifies the return of inhabitants to a key Judean settlement, linking the post-exilic community to its rich past and future hopes.
* **Netophah (נְטֹפָה, _Netofah'_):** A village located near Bethlehem, often mentioned alongside it in biblical lists of settlements. It was known as the home of some of David's mighty men ([2 Samuel 23:28-29](/2_samuel/23-28 "2 Samuel 23:28-29 - David's Mighty Men from Netophah")) and later, Levites who served in the temple ([1 Chronicles 9:16](/1_chronicles/9-16 "1 Chronicles 9:16 - Levites from Netophah")). Its presence in the census indicates the repopulation of not just major cities but also surrounding agricultural and support communities vital for the region's recovery.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The men of Bethlehem and Netophah":** This phrase specifies the origin of the individuals being counted. It highlights the geographical scope of the return, encompassing both well-known towns like Bethlehem and smaller, adjacent villages like Netophah. The focus on "men" indicates the heads of households or adult males capable of contributing to the rebuilding efforts, though their families would have accompanied them.
* **"an hundred fourscore and eight":** This is the numerical count for the men from these two towns, totaling 188. The precise number underscores the meticulous nature of the census, reflecting a careful accounting of the returning population. It emphasizes the tangible reality of the restoration, with specific individuals contributing to the re-establishment of the community. This exactitude was crucial for administrative purposes, including land allocation, taxation, and military organization.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 7:26, as part of a larger census, primarily employs **Enumeration** and **Cataloging**. The entire chapter is a detailed list, systematically itemizing families, towns, and their respective numbers of returnees. This precise **Enumeration** lends an air of historical accuracy and administrative thoroughness to the narrative, emphasizing the concrete reality of the post-exilic restoration. Furthermore, the chapter exhibits strong **Parallelism** with [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The First Returnees"), where a nearly identical list appears. This **Parallelism** serves to validate the historical record, reinforcing the authenticity and importance of these foundational lists for the identity of the returning community. The seemingly dry statistics, therefore, function as a literary device to underscore the divine faithfulness in gathering a remnant and the human effort required to rebuild a nation, one family and one town at a time.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 7:26, though a simple numerical entry, is deeply theological. It testifies to God's meticulous care for His people, demonstrating that even in the aftermath of exile, He remembers every family and every town. The return of these individuals from Bethlehem and Netophah is a tangible fulfillment of God's covenant promises, showcasing His faithfulness to restore His people to their land and rebuild their community. It underscores the importance of identity and belonging within the covenant community, where each person, no matter how seemingly small their contribution, plays a vital role in God's redemptive plan. The census highlights the principle that God's work often involves human organization and diligent record-keeping, ensuring order and accountability within His people.

* [Ezra 2:21](/ezra/2-21 "Ezra 2:21 - Men of Bethlehem")
* [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Bethlehem's Prophetic Significance")
* [Isaiah 43:5-6](/isaiah/43-5 "Isaiah 43:5-6 - God Gathers His People from Afar")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Nehemiah 7:26 might appear to be a mere historical statistic, it offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God, in His infinite wisdom and meticulous care, values every individual and every detail within His kingdom. Just as the men of Bethlehem and Netophah were counted and recognized for their part in the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem, so too does every believer have a unique place and purpose in the spiritual building of God's church today. This verse encourages us to embrace our identity within the community of faith, recognizing that our collective strength comes from the unique contributions of each member. It also emphasizes the importance of faithfulness in seemingly small or unglamorous tasks, like diligent record-keeping or community organization, for these are often foundational to larger spiritual endeavors. Our names may not be recorded in a biblical census, but they are surely written in the Lamb's Book of Life, signifying our belonging and our vital role in God's ongoing redemptive story.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous nature of this census, including specific numbers for towns like Bethlehem and Netophah, speak to God's care for individuals within a community?**
* **In what ways can we, as modern believers, apply the principle of valuing every member's contribution, even those seemingly small, to our local church or community?**
* **What does the return of the exiles, as documented in this census, teach us about God's faithfulness to His promises, even after periods of judgment or difficulty?**

### FAQ
**Why is a detailed list of names and numbers, like Nehemiah 7:26, included in the Bible?**

Answer: Detailed lists like the census in [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Census of Returnees") serve several crucial purposes. Firstly, they provide historical validation, affirming the factual basis of the biblical narrative and demonstrating God's work in real history with real people. Secondly, they emphasize the importance of identity and lineage in ancient Israel, which was vital for establishing land rights, tribal affiliations, and eligibility for priestly or Levitical service. Thirdly, these lists highlight the meticulous administrative efforts undertaken by leaders like Nehemiah to re-establish order and community after the exile. Finally, they underscore God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant and fulfilling His promises to restore His people to their land, showing that every individual counted.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Nehemiah 7:26, with its meticulous counting of the men from Bethlehem and Netophah, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. Bethlehem, the "house of bread," prophetically becomes the birthplace of Jesus, the true [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), who nourishes His people spiritually. The census in Nehemiah highlights the re-gathering of physical Israel, but in Christ, a new census takes place: the gathering of all who are "counted" among God's people through faith, regardless of their earthly lineage or origin. Jesus' ministry and the establishment of the church fulfill the ultimate restoration, not just of a nation to a land, but of humanity to God through His atoning sacrifice. Just as Nehemiah meticulously accounted for each returnee to rebuild the physical city, Christ, the ultimate Shepherd, knows each of His sheep by name ([John 10:3](/john/10-3 "John 10:3 - The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep")) and gathers them into His new covenant community, the church, which is the spiritual Jerusalem ([Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem")). The seemingly mundane act of counting in Nehemiah foreshadows God's intimate knowledge and sovereign care for every individual who becomes part of His kingdom through Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezra 2:21

The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.

Ezra 2:22

The men of Netophah, fifty and six.