Nehemiah 7:9

KJV

The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} of Shephatiah {H8203}, three {H7969} hundred {H3967} seventy {H7657} and two {H8147}.

Complete Jewish Bible

descendants of Sh'fatyah 372

Berean Standard Bible

the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;

American Standard Version

The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 7:9 is a specific entry within a comprehensive census of the Jewish people who returned to Judah from Babylonian exile, identifying "The children of Shephatiah" and their number as "three hundred seventy and two." This verse, part of a larger register almost identical to that found in Ezra 2, serves not merely as a historical record but as a profound testament to God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant people and orchestrating their meticulous return to their ancestral land, laying the groundwork for the re-establishment of their national and spiritual identity in Jerusalem.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 7 immediately follows the completion of the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, a feat achieved through divine aid and immense human effort (Nehemiah 6). With the city's defenses secured, Nehemiah's focus shifts to repopulating Jerusalem and organizing the community for its future. This chapter presents a detailed genealogical register of those who returned from the Babylonian captivity, serving as a foundational document for the post-exilic community. Its near-verbatim parallel with [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The List of Returned Exiles") underscores its authoritative and foundational nature, establishing the legitimate inhabitants and their lineage for purposes of land inheritance, civic organization, and especially, eligibility for Temple service. The census provides the demographic backbone for the spiritual revival and re-establishment of the Law that follows in [Nehemiah 8](/nehemiah/8 "Nehemiah 8 - The Reading of the Law").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return from Babylonian exile was a pivotal moment in Israelite history, fulfilling prophetic promises (e.g., [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Seventy Years of Exile")). After seventy years in a foreign land, the decree of Cyrus the Great (circa 538 BC), recorded in [Ezra 1:1-4](/ezra/1-1 "Ezra 1:1-4 - Cyrus's Decree"), allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. The meticulous record-keeping of family lineages was crucial in ancient Israelite society, particularly for land ownership, tribal affiliation, and religious roles. For the returned exiles, these genealogies confirmed their identity as true Israelites, distinguishing them from those who had remained in the land or foreign peoples who had settled there. This census was not merely administrative; it was a theological declaration of continuity and restoration, affirming the preservation of God's chosen people despite the devastation of exile.

* **Key Themes:** The meticulous enumeration in Nehemiah 7, including the entry in [Nehemiah 7:9](/nehemiah/7-9 "Nehemiah 7:9 - The Children of Shephatiah"), contributes to several overarching themes in Nehemiah and the broader post-exilic narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Restoration and Return**, demonstrating the tangible reality of God bringing His people back to their land as promised. Each name and number represents an individual or family participating in this divine act of re-gathering. Secondly, it emphasizes **Identity and Lineage**, crucial for the re-establishment of a distinct Jewish community. Knowing one's family group, such as "the children of Shephatiah," confirmed one's place within the covenant people and validated claims to land and Temple service. Thirdly, the chapter powerfully illustrates **God's Faithfulness and Preservation**. Despite the exile, God preserved a remnant and meticulously orchestrated their return, fulfilling His covenant promises. Finally, the census underscores **Order and Accountability**, providing the necessary framework for the repopulation of Jerusalem, the organization of civic life, and the proper functioning of the Temple and its services, paving the way for the spiritual reforms detailed in subsequent chapters, such as the [reading of the Law](/nehemiah/8 "Nehemiah 8 - The Reading of the Law").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Shephatiah (Hebrew, _Shᵉphatya'_):** This name, meaning "Yahweh has judged" or "Yahweh has defended," is significant. It appears in various biblical contexts, indicating a common name within Israel. In the context of the return from exile, the name itself carries a subtle theological resonance. After a period of divine judgment (the exile), the return signifies God's defense and restoration of His people. The family name thus embodies a testimony to God's overarching sovereignty—His judgment led to exile, and His defense led to their return.
* **children (Hebrew, _bᵉnê_):** The term "children" here refers not strictly to young offspring but to the descendants or members of a particular family or clan. It signifies a family unit, a lineage, or a house. The use of "children of Shephatiah" rather than just "Shephatiah" emphasizes the continuity of the family line through generations, even through the disruption of exile. It highlights the collective identity and the preservation of distinct family units within the larger returning community, which was vital for tribal and land inheritance purposes in Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children of Shephatiah":** This phrase identifies a specific family or clan unit that returned from Babylonian exile. The emphasis on "children" (descendants) highlights the continuity of lineage and the preservation of distinct family identities, which was paramount for the social, economic, and religious structure of post-exilic Israel. This family was one of many listed, each contributing to the re-establishment of the nation.
* **"three hundred seventy and two":** This precise number indicates the total count of individuals belonging to the family of Shephatiah who participated in the return. The specificity of the number underscores the meticulous nature of the census, reflecting a careful and accurate accounting of the returning exiles. This detail was crucial for planning the repopulation of Jerusalem, allocating resources, and organizing the community for its future. It also implicitly speaks to the immense logistical undertaking of the return and the value placed on each individual and family unit.

#### Literary Devices
While a numerical census entry might seem devoid of literary flair, the chapter as a whole, and this verse within it, employs several subtle literary devices. The most prominent is **Catalog** or **List**, where a detailed enumeration of items (in this case, families and their numbers) serves to convey a sense of thoroughness, order, and historical accuracy. This device emphasizes the tangible reality of the return and the re-establishment of the community. The **Repetition** of the structure "The children of [Name], [Number]" throughout the chapter creates a rhythmic, almost liturgical effect, reinforcing the systematic nature of the record and the collective identity of the returning remnant. Furthermore, the entire list can be seen as a form of **Symbolism**, where the very act of counting and listing represents God's meticulous care for His people, His faithfulness in preserving them, and the fulfillment of His promises of restoration. Each number, though seemingly mundane, symbolizes a life that has been brought back from exile into God's redemptive plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 7:9, as part of the larger census, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous faithfulness and His commitment to His covenant promises. It is a testament to the fact that God remembers His people, even through periods of judgment and dispersion, and actively works to restore them. The careful counting of each family underscores the divine value placed on every individual and group within the community, demonstrating that God's plans are not abstract but involve real people and specific details. This census serves as a tangible fulfillment of prophecies concerning the return from exile, solidifying the identity of the remnant who would rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish the worship of Yahweh. It highlights the importance of identity, lineage, and community in God's redemptive plan, setting the stage for the spiritual renewal that follows.

* [Ezra 2:3](/ezra/2-3 "Ezra 2:3 - The Children of Shephatiah in Ezra's List") - This parallel passage in Ezra’s account confirms the exact number and family, emphasizing the accuracy and importance of these records for the post-exilic community.
* [Isaiah 43:5-6](/isaiah/43-5-6 "Isaiah 43:5-6 - God Gathers His People from Exile") - Prophetic words foretelling God's gathering of His people from the ends of the earth, fulfilled in part by the return recorded in Nehemiah 7.
* [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Return After Seventy Years") - God's promise through Jeremiah that after seventy years in Babylon, He would bring His people back to their land, a promise tangibly realized in this census.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While a simple numerical entry, Nehemiah 7:9 offers profound spiritual lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is a God of order, precision, and meticulous care. He knows each of us by name, values every individual, and orchestrates the details of our lives within His grand redemptive plan. Just as the "children of Shephatiah" had a specific place and purpose in the restoration of Israel, so too does every believer have a unique role in God's ongoing work in the world. This verse encourages us to embrace our spiritual heritage and identity in Christ, understanding that we are part of a larger, divinely purposed community. It calls us to participate faithfully in the rebuilding and restoration efforts of God's kingdom today, whether in our families, churches, or communities, trusting that even seemingly small contributions are significant in God's eyes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous record-keeping in Nehemiah 7:9 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's attention to detail in your own life?**
* **In what ways does knowing your spiritual identity in Christ (e.g., adopted child of God, member of His body) parallel the importance of lineage for the returning exiles?**
* **What "rebuilding" or "restoration" work is God calling you to participate in within your sphere of influence, and how does this verse encourage your participation?**

### FAQ
**Why is such a detailed list of names and numbers important in the Bible?**

Answer: The detailed list in Nehemiah 7, including [Nehemiah 7:9](/nehemiah/7-9 "Nehemiah 7:9 - The Children of Shephatiah"), is crucial for several reasons. Historically, it authenticates the return from Babylonian exile, providing a verifiable record of those who came back to rebuild Jerusalem and Judah. Theologically, it demonstrates God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant of His people and fulfilling His covenant promises to bring them back to their land after seventy years of exile (e.g., [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Return")). Culturally, it was vital for establishing legitimate claims to land, determining tribal affiliations, and identifying those eligible for priestly and Levitical service in the re-established Temple. It underscores the importance of identity and order within the community as they sought to restore their national and spiritual life under God's Law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Nehemiah 7:9 is a historical census entry, its underlying themes find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The meticulous counting of the "children of Shephatiah" and other families foreshadows God's precise and intentional plan of salvation, culminating in Christ. Just as this list validated the identity of the returning exiles, the genealogies of Jesus in [Matthew 1](/matthew/1 "Matthew 1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Luke 3](/luke/3 "Luke 3 - The Genealogy of Jesus") meticulously establish His identity as the promised Messiah, the true Son of David, and the one through whom all God's promises are fulfilled. The physical return from Babylonian exile points to the greater spiritual liberation from the exile of sin and death, which Jesus accomplished through His atoning sacrifice on the cross. He is the ultimate Deliverer who gathers His people from spiritual bondage, bringing them into a new covenant community, the Church, which is His body ([Ephesians 1:22-23](/ephesians/1-22 "Ephesians 1:22-23 - Christ as Head of the Church")). The restoration of Jerusalem and its inhabitants prefigures the establishment of the heavenly Jerusalem, where believers, redeemed by the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), will dwell eternally with God ([Revelation 21:2](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2 - The New Jerusalem")). Thus, this seemingly mundane list entry ultimately testifies to God's faithfulness in meticulously orchestrating history for the coming of His Son and the redemption of His people.

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 8:8

And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.

Ezra 2:4

The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.