Nehemiah 7:69

KJV

[Their] camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.

KJV (with Strong's)

Their camels {H1581}, four {H702} hundred {H3967} thirty {H7970} and five {H2568}: six {H8337} thousand {H505} seven {H7651} hundred {H3967} and twenty {H6242} asses {H2543}.

Complete Jewish Bible

their camels, 435; and their donkeys, 6,720.

Berean Standard Bible

435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

American Standard Version

their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 7:69 meticulously records the number of camels and asses (donkeys) that accompanied the Jewish exiles returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. This seemingly simple enumeration of livestock is far from trivial; it serves as a testament to the immense logistical undertaking of the post-exilic restoration, highlighting God's faithful provision for His people's physical needs and the practical resources essential for rebuilding their community, economy, and the city of Jerusalem. It underscores the divine meticulousness in orchestrating every detail of their return and re-establishment in the promised land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 7:69 is situated within a comprehensive census list (Nehemiah 7:6-73) detailing the families, individuals, and possessions of those who returned to Judah from Babylonian exile. This list is nearly identical to the one found in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The Census of Returning Exiles"), underscoring its historical accuracy and importance as an official record. The placement of this census immediately after the completion of the wall (Nehemiah 6) and before the great public reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8) is significant. It demonstrates Nehemiah's commitment to order and structure, ensuring that the community was properly organized and accounted for before embarking on spiritual renewal. The meticulous listing of people and resources, down to the animals, establishes the legitimate claim of the returnees to the land and their readiness to rebuild.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return from Babylonian exile was a monumental event, occurring in waves over several decades, beginning with Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was long and arduous, spanning hundreds of miles across deserts and challenging terrain. In the ancient Near East, camels were invaluable for long-distance transport, capable of carrying heavy loads over vast, arid landscapes, while asses (donkeys) were essential for shorter distances, agricultural work, and daily transport within settlements. The presence of such a large number of these animals signifies the substantial resources and logistical planning required for this mass migration and subsequent resettlement. These animals were not merely possessions but vital tools for survival, agriculture, trade, and the immense task of rebuilding the city, the temple, and the economic life of the nascent community in Judah.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, within the broader census, contributes to several overarching themes in Nehemiah. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Providence and Faithfulness**. The inclusion of such precise numbers, even for livestock, emphasizes God's meticulous care and provision for His people, orchestrating their return and equipping them with the necessary resources after the prophesied [seventy years of Babylonian captivity](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Restoration and Rebuilding**. The animals were practical assets, indispensable for the physical reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls (as detailed in [Nehemiah 3](/nehemiah/3 "Nehemiah 3 - Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem")) and the temple, as well as for establishing a sustainable economy. Lastly, the detailed record-keeping underscores the theme of **Order and Accountability**, reflecting a community committed to proper administration and the preservation of its identity and heritage as they re-established themselves in the land.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Camels (Hebrew, _gəmallim'_):** These large, resilient pack animals were crucial for long-distance travel across arid regions, capable of carrying substantial loads of goods and supplies over many days without needing frequent watering. Their presence in such numbers (435) indicates the significant wealth and logistical capacity of the returning exiles, as well as the sheer volume of materials and provisions transported from Babylon to Judah. They symbolize the arduous journey and the substantial resources God provided for the return.
* **Asses (Hebrew, _ḥămôrîm'_):** Donkeys were the ubiquitous work animals of the ancient world, used for shorter-distance transport, agricultural labor (plowing, threshing), and general utility. The much larger number of asses (6,720) compared to camels reflects their broader utility for daily life, farming, and local transportation within the newly settled community. Their abundance underscores the practical foundation laid for the community's immediate and long-term sustenance and agricultural productivity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[Their] camels, four hundred thirty and five":** This clause specifically enumerates the camels, highlighting their value as beasts of burden for the long journey and as a significant asset for the community's future. The precise number emphasizes the meticulous nature of the census and the tangible provision for the returnees' challenging endeavor.
* **"six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses":** This second clause details the far greater number of asses. This disparity in numbers between camels and asses reflects their different primary uses: camels for long-haul transport and wealth, asses for everyday labor, agriculture, and local movement. The high count of asses points to the immediate need for widespread agricultural and domestic support for the re-established community.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Nehemiah 7:69, and indeed throughout the entire census in Nehemiah 7, is **Enumeration**. This meticulous listing of specific numbers for people, animals, and resources serves to emphasize the historical accuracy and factual basis of the record. It lends credibility to the narrative of the return and underscores the tangible reality of God's provision. The precise figures also convey a sense of **Order** and **Divine Meticulousness**, suggesting that every detail of the return was accounted for, reflecting a divine hand guiding the process. Furthermore, the inclusion of livestock, alongside human population, functions as a form of **Merism**, representing the totality of the community's assets and the comprehensive nature of their re-establishment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 7:69, with its precise enumeration of livestock, profoundly speaks to the theological truth of God's comprehensive and meticulous provision for His people. It reveals that God's plan for restoration is not merely spiritual or abstract but encompasses the practical, material needs of His servants. Just as He provided the physical resources—camels for the journey, asses for labor—for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, so too does He equip His people for every task He calls them to. This verse stands as a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating His active involvement in even the seemingly mundane details of human history, ensuring His purposes are fulfilled. It encourages believers to trust in God's all-encompassing care, knowing that He oversees the grand narrative and the smallest provisions.

* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")
* [Matthew 6:26](/matthew/6-26 "Matthew 6:26 - Consider the Birds of the Air")
* [Ezra 1:2](/ezra/1-2 "Ezra 1:2 - Cyrus's Decree for the Temple Rebuilding")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detailed accounting of livestock in Nehemiah 7:69 offers a powerful reminder that God's providence extends to every aspect of our lives, even the seemingly insignificant or mundane. Just as He meticulously provided the camels and asses necessary for the physical journey and rebuilding efforts of the returning exiles, so too does He equip us with the resources, talents, and opportunities we need for our spiritual journeys and the work He calls us to do. This verse challenges us to cultivate a posture of gratitude for God's provision in all areas, recognizing that every detail contributes to His overarching purpose. It encourages us to be diligent stewards of the resources entrusted to us, whether material possessions, spiritual gifts, or relational connections, understanding that they are given for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. Ultimately, it assures us that God's plans are comprehensive, His care is personal, and His faithfulness is unwavering, providing all that is necessary for His will to be accomplished in and through us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail in this verse challenge your perception of God's involvement in the "small" or "mundane" aspects of your life?**
* **In what ways can you identify God's specific provision for your current circumstances, even in what seems like ordinary resources?**
* **How does recognizing God's provision for the physical needs of the exiles encourage you to trust Him with your own practical needs today?**
* **What resources (tangible or intangible) has God entrusted to you, and how are you stewarding them for His purposes?**

### FAQ
**Why is such a specific and seemingly mundane detail about animals included in a sacred text like Nehemiah?**

Answer: The inclusion of such specific details, including the number of camels and asses, serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it underscores the historical authenticity and meticulous record-keeping of the ancient world, lending credibility to the biblical narrative as a factual account of the post-exilic return. Secondly, it highlights the immense logistical challenge and scale of the repatriation; these animals were indispensable for transport, agriculture, and the economic re-establishment of the community. Their numbers reflect the tangible resources God provided for His people's physical needs. Theologically, it demonstrates God's comprehensive providence, showing that His care extends to every detail, no matter how small, of His plan for His people's restoration and the rebuilding of His kingdom. It emphasizes that God's faithfulness is practical and all-encompassing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Nehemiah 7:69 details the physical provisions for a physical return to a physical land, it foreshadows the far greater and more comprehensive provision found in Jesus Christ for our spiritual return and restoration. The meticulous care God showed in providing camels and asses for the journey back to Jerusalem speaks to His divine oversight of every detail, ultimately culminating in the sending of His Son. Just as the animals were essential for rebuilding the earthly city, Christ is the ultimate and indispensable provision for the rebuilding of humanity and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the [cornerstone of the spiritual temple](/ephesians/2-19_22 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Christ the Cornerstone of the Church"), and the one who builds His church, against which [the gates of hell shall not prevail](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - Peter's Confession and the Church"). The physical resources of Nehemiah point to the spiritual resources of grace, forgiveness, and new life found in Christ, who perfectly fulfills God's covenant promises and provides all that is truly needed for eternal restoration and the building of His heavenly city.

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.