Nehemiah 7:31

The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.

The men {H582} of Michmas {H4363}, an hundred {H3967} and twenty {H6242} and two {H8147}.

people of Mikhmas 122

the men of Michmash, 122;

The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two.

Commentary

Nehemiah 7:31 is a specific entry within a detailed census of the Jewish people who returned to Judah from Babylonian captivity. This verse records the number of men from the town of Michmas who resettled in their ancestral land after the seventy-year exile.

Context

This verse is part of a lengthy and meticulous list found in Nehemiah 7:6-73, which essentially duplicates the list in Ezra 2. Nehemiah, as governor, undertook this census to establish the identity, lineage, and population distribution of the post-exilic community. This was crucial for assigning land, organizing temple service, and ensuring the purity of the Israelite nation as they rebuilt Jerusalem and re-established their society. Michmas (also spelled Michmash) was a historically significant town located in the territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem, known from earlier periods of Israelite history, such as during the time of King Saul (1 Samuel 13:2).

Key Themes

  • Restoration and Rebuilding: The precise counting of individuals from each town underscores the serious and methodical effort to restore the nation of Israel and rebuild its infrastructure and social order after the devastation of exile. This meticulous record-keeping was vital for the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and its community.
  • Identity and Lineage: The meticulous record-keeping highlights the immense importance placed on tribal and family identity in ancient Israel, especially after the disruption of the exile. Knowing one's lineage was vital for land claims, religious roles, and community belonging.
  • God's Faithfulness: This detailed list is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to bring His people back to their land, even after judgment. Each number represents individuals who experienced God's grace and guiding hand, fulfilling prophecies of return (Jeremiah 29:10).
  • Order and Accountability: The census reflects the desire for order, organization, and accountability within the returning community, essential for establishing a stable and functional society under God's law.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text for "an hundred and twenty and two" (ืžึตืึธื” ื•ึฐืขึถืฉึฐื‚ืจึดื™ื ื•ึผืฉึฐืื ึทื™ึดื - me'ah v'esrim u'shnayim) is a straightforward numerical count. There are no complex linguistic nuances in this particular verse beyond its function as a precise record. The emphasis is on the exactness of the count, signifying thoroughness in the census taken by Nehemiah.

Practical Application

While seemingly just a statistic, Nehemiah 7:31 reminds us that every individual matters in God's grand plan of redemption and restoration. Just as God meticulously accounted for each person returning from exile, He values and knows each of us. This verse also teaches us about the importance of order, diligence, and working together in community for a common purpose, whether in rebuilding a physical city or spiritual lives. It highlights the value of every contribution, no matter how small it may seem, to the larger work of God's kingdom.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 13:5 (2 votes)

    And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

  • 1 Samuel 13:23 (2 votes)

    And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

  • Ezra 2:27 (2 votes)

    The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

  • Isaiah 10:28 (2 votes)

    He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages: