Nehemiah 7:34

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} of the other {H312} Elam {H5867}, a thousand {H505} two hundred {H3967} fifty {H2572} and four {H702}.

Complete Jewish Bible

people from the other 'Eilam 1,254

Berean Standard Bible

the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse, "The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four," is a precise entry within the comprehensive genealogical register of Jewish families who returned to Judah from Babylonian exile. It serves as a meticulous record of one specific family group, distinguishing them from another of the same name, and underscores the painstaking detail with which Nehemiah and the returning exiles documented their community for the purpose of re-establishing their identity, allocating resources, and rebuilding the physical and spiritual infrastructure of Jerusalem and its temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 7:34 is situated within a lengthy and detailed genealogical register spanning [Nehemiah 7:6-69](/nehemiah/7-6 "Nehemiah 7:6-69 - The List of Returnees"). This extensive list meticulously enumerates the families and individuals who returned from Babylonian exile, serving as a foundational document for the re-establishment of the Jewish community in Judah. The immediate preceding and succeeding verses continue this enumeration, listing various family groups and their numbers. The inclusion of "the other Elam" (distinguished from the "children of Elam" in [Nehemiah 7:12](/nehemiah/7-12 "Nehemiah 7:12 - Children of Elam")) highlights the meticulousness of the record-keeping, ensuring proper identification and preventing confusion among families sharing common names. This entire chapter is presented as a crucial administrative act following Nehemiah's discovery of an original register ([Nehemiah 7:5](/nehemiah/7-5 "Nehemiah 7:5 - Discovery of the Register")), emphasizing the importance of lineage and identity for the nascent post-exilic community.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Nehemiah 7:34 is the post-exilic period, specifically the mid-5th century BCE, following the decrees of Cyrus the Great that allowed the Jews to return to their homeland after seventy years of Babylonian captivity ([Ezra 1:1-4](/ezra/1-1 "Ezra 1:1-4 - Cyrus's Decree")). The returning exiles faced the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem, which lay in ruins, and re-establishing their national and religious identity. Culturally, lineage and tribal affiliation were paramount in ancient Israel, determining land rights, priestly service, and social standing. A precise census, like the one in [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Census of Returnees"), was not merely a demographic exercise but a vital tool for re-establishing the social order, ensuring proper temple service (as seen with the exclusion of those whose lineage was uncertain in [Nehemiah 7:64](/nehemiah/7-64 "Nehemiah 7:64 - Exclusion from Priesthood")), and allocating resources for the rebuilding efforts. The geographical setting is Jerusalem and the surrounding Judean territory, where these families were to resettle and reconstruct their lives.

* **Key Themes:**
* **Divine Faithfulness and Restoration:** The meticulous record of returnees, including the "children of the other Elam," powerfully underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. After decades of exile, a period of divine judgment, the return of His people to the land, as foretold by prophets like Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Return")), signifies a profound act of restoration. This census is not just a list of names and numbers; it is a tangible testament to God's commitment to rebuild His people and their nation, demonstrating His sovereign hand guiding historical events to fulfill His redemptive plan.
* **Identity and Continuity of Israel:** The painstaking detail in recording family lineages, including distinguishing between different groups with the same name, highlights the critical importance of identity for the post-exilic community. This census was crucial for establishing tribal affiliations, confirming rights to ancestral lands, and ensuring the purity of the priestly and Levitical lines ([Nehemiah 7:61-65](/nehemiah/7-61 "Nehemiah 7:61-65 - Those Who Could Not Prove Lineage")). It was a means of asserting the continuity of the covenant people, linking the present generation back to their patriarchal roots and the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This meticulous record-keeping was foundational for re-establishing their national and religious distinctiveness.
* **Community Rebuilding and Collective Effort:** Beyond individual identities, each entry in this register represents a vital component of the collective effort to rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish the nation. The "thousand two hundred fifty and four" individuals from the children of the other Elam were not merely statistics; they were active participants in the arduous tasks of reconstruction, repopulation, and re-establishing the social and spiritual fabric of Israel. This theme emphasizes that the restoration was a communal endeavor, requiring the contribution of every family and individual to achieve God's purposes for His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Elam (Hebrew, _‘Êlām_):** This is a proper name, referring to a specific family or clan. The name "Elam" appears multiple times in biblical genealogies and registers (e.g., [Genesis 10:22](/genesis/10-22 "Genesis 10:22 - Sons of Shem"), [Ezra 2:7](/ezra/2-7 "Ezra 2:7 - Children of Elam")). The critical distinction in Nehemiah 7:34 is "the *other* Elam" (אֶלָם אַחֵר, _‘Elam ‘aḥer_). This phrase explicitly differentiates this group from another family also named Elam, listed earlier in the same census ([Nehemiah 7:12](/nehemiah/7-12 "Nehemiah 7:12 - Children of Elam")). This meticulous naming convention underscores the administrative precision and the importance of accurate identification for the returning exiles, vital for land allocation, tribal identity, and civic organization.
* **A thousand two hundred fifty and four (Hebrew, _‘elef u-matayim va-ḥamishim ve-’arba‘ah_):** This precise numerical figure highlights the careful and systematic nature of the census. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, such detailed enumerations were not merely statistical but served practical purposes related to taxation, military conscription, and the allocation of resources. For the post-exilic community, these numbers represented the human capital available for the immense task of rebuilding Jerusalem and re-establishing the nation. The exactness of the number emphasizes the tangible reality of the return and the specific contribution of this particular family group to the overall restoration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children of the other Elam":** This clause precisely identifies a specific family or clan group among the returning exiles. The addition of "the other" (אחר, _‘aḥer_) is crucial, indicating that this particular group named Elam is distinct from another family of the same name previously listed in the register ([Nehemiah 7:12](/nehemiah/7-12 "Nehemiah 7:12 - Children of Elam")). This highlights the meticulousness of the census, ensuring clarity and avoiding confusion in a society where lineage was paramount for identity, inheritance, and social structure. It points to a highly organized and detailed record-keeping system.
* **"a thousand two hundred fifty and four":** This numerical statement provides the exact count of individuals belonging to "the children of the other Elam" who returned from exile. The specificity of the number, down to the single digit, emphasizes the comprehensive and accurate nature of the census. It transforms a mere name into a tangible group of people, each representing a life, a family unit, and a contributor to the rebuilding efforts. This figure contributes to the overall demographic picture of the post-exilic community, demonstrating the scale of the return and the human resources available for the restoration of Jerusalem and Judah.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 7:34, as part of a larger census, primarily employs the literary device of **Enumeration** or **Register**. This technique involves the systematic listing of names, places, or numbers, serving to provide a detailed and comprehensive account. The meticulous numerical precision, "a thousand two hundred fifty and four," exemplifies this device, lending an air of historical accuracy and administrative thoroughness to the narrative. Furthermore, the phrase "the other Elam" demonstrates **Distinction** or **Differentiation**, a subtle literary technique used to clarify identity and avoid ambiguity within a list where names might be repeated. While not a vivid narrative, the very act of listing and numbering also functions as a form of **Symbolism**, where each entry, though seemingly mundane, represents the tangible reality of God's faithfulness in restoring His people and the collective human effort required for national rebuilding. The dry facts become a testament to divine promise and human perseverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The seemingly mundane nature of a numerical entry like Nehemiah 7:34 carries profound theological weight. It speaks to God's divine meticulousness and His sovereign interest in the details of His people's lives. Just as He numbered the tribes of Israel in the wilderness and commanded a census for the allocation of land, this post-exilic register demonstrates that every individual and family, no matter how seemingly small or obscure, is known and valued by God. This attention to detail reflects a God who is intimately involved in the restoration of His covenant people, orchestrating their return and providing the human resources necessary for the fulfillment of His promises. It underscores the theological truth that God's plans are not abstract but are realized through the specific lives and contributions of His people.

* [Numbers 1:2-3](/numbers/1-2 "Numbers 1:2-3 - Census of Israel"): This passage describes God's command to Moses to take a census of the Israelites in the wilderness, demonstrating a long-standing divine precedent for meticulous record-keeping concerning His people for purposes of organization, military readiness, and land allocation.
* [Ezra 2:1-2](/ezra/2-1 "Ezra 2:1-2 - Parallel Census of Returnees"): This chapter provides a near-identical list of returnees from exile, underscoring the historical veracity and administrative importance of the census found in Nehemiah 7. The consistency between the two accounts highlights the shared historical memory and the foundational nature of this register for the post-exilic community.
* [Psalm 147:4](/psalms/147-4 "Psalm 147:4 - God Numbers the Stars"): This poetic verse declares that God "determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name," illustrating God's infinite knowledge and meticulous attention to detail, not only in the vast cosmos but also in the lives of His people, where every individual is known and accounted for.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Nehemiah 7:34 might initially appear as a dry historical statistic, it offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God, who oversees the grand sweep of history and orchestrates the return of an entire nation, also cares intimately about the individual. Each number, each name, represents a person known to God, whose life and contribution were essential to His redemptive plan. This should encourage us to recognize our own irreplaceable value within the body of Christ; no one is a mere statistic in God's kingdom. Furthermore, it challenges us to appreciate the collective effort required for God's work. Just as the "children of the other Elam" contributed their numbers to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, so too are our individual gifts, talents, and presence vital for the flourishing of the church and the advancement of God's kingdom today. It calls us to faithful participation, knowing that even seemingly small contributions are significant in God's grand design.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous nature of this census affirm God's personal knowledge and care for you as an individual?**
* **In what ways can you see your "number" or unique contribution fitting into God's larger plan for your community or the church?**
* **How does understanding the importance of every individual in Nehemiah's time encourage you to value and affirm every member of your spiritual community today?**

### FAQ
**Why is this census so detailed, and why is it repeated in Ezra?**

Answer: The meticulous detail of the census in [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Census of Returnees"), including specific family names and precise numbers like "the children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four," was crucial for several reasons in the post-exilic community. It served to re-establish tribal identities, confirm land ownership rights, organize the population for rebuilding efforts (especially the walls of Jerusalem), and ensure the purity of the priestly and Levitical lines. The repetition of this census in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The List of Returnees") underscores its immense historical and administrative importance. It provided a foundational document for the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, validating the lineage of those who returned and forming the basis for the new community's structure and governance. This dual appearance in two distinct but related historical books emphasizes its authoritative and foundational nature for the restored Jewish community.

**What is the significance of "the other Elam"?**

Answer: The phrase "the other Elam" (אֶלָם אַחֵר, _‘Elam ‘aḥer_) in [Nehemiah 7:34](/nehemiah/7-34 "Nehemiah 7:34 - The Children of the Other Elam") is a key detail that highlights the extraordinary precision of the ancient census. It signifies that there were at least two distinct family groups or clans named Elam among the returning exiles. One "Elam" group is listed earlier in the register ([Nehemiah 7:12](/nehemiah/7-12 "Nehemiah 7:12 - Children of Elam")), and this verse refers to a second, separate group. This careful differentiation was vital for accurate record-keeping, preventing confusion in matters of lineage, inheritance, and community organization. It demonstrates the meticulous administrative efforts undertaken by Nehemiah and the leaders to properly identify and account for every family in the re-established community, ensuring order and continuity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Nehemiah 7:34 details the physical restoration of a specific lineage in post-exilic Israel, it points forward to the ultimate and spiritual restoration found in Jesus Christ. The meticulous accounting of names and numbers in Nehemiah foreshadows God's intimate knowledge of every individual who belongs to His new covenant people. Just as the returning exiles were gathered to rebuild Jerusalem, Christ gathers His church, the spiritual Israel, from every tribe and nation ([Revelation 7:9](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9 - A Multitude from Every Nation")). In Christ, the emphasis shifts from physical lineage to spiritual adoption ([Galatians 3:26-29](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26-29 - Children of God by Faith")). He is the true builder of God's temple, not of stone, but of living stones ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones")), where every believer, regardless of their earthly origin, is known by name by the Good Shepherd ([John 10:3](/john/10-3 "John 10:3 - The Shepherd Calls His Own Sheep by Name")) and is an essential part of His body ([1 Corinthians 12:27](/1_corinthians/12-27 "1 Corinthians 12:27 - You are the Body of Christ")). The detailed census of Nehemiah thus serves as a historical testament to God's unwavering commitment to His people, a commitment fully realized and infinitely expanded in the person and work of the [Lord Jesus Christ](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World"), who ensures that none of His chosen "sheep" are lost ([John 6:39](/john/6-39 "John 6:39 - Jesus Will Lose None")).

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.