Nehemiah 7

King James Version

Full text for Nehemiah Chapter 7

1¶ Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

2That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he [was] a faithful man, and feared God above many.

3And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar [them]: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one [to be] over against his house.

4Now the city [was] large and great: but the people [were] few therein, and the houses [were] not builded.

5¶ And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,

6These [are] the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

7Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, [I say], of the men of the people of Israel [was this];

8The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

9The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

10The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.

11The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred [and] eighteen.

12The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

13The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.

14The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

15The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

16The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

17The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.

18The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

19The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

20The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

21The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

22The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.

23The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

24The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

25The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.

26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.

27The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

28The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.

29The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.

30The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.

31The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.

32The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

33The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.

34The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

35The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

36The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

37The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.

38The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

40The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

41The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.

42The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

43The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, [and] of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.

44The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.

45The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.

46The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

47The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,

48The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,

49The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,

50The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,

51The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,

52The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,

53The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

54The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

55The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,

56The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

57The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,

58The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

59The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.

60All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, [were] three hundred ninety and two.

61And these [were] they which went up [also] from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they [were] of Israel.

62The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

63And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took [one] of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

64These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

65And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood [up] a priest with Urim and Thummim.

66The whole congregation together [was] forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

67Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom [there were] seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.

68Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:

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

70And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

71And [some] of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.

72And [that] which the rest of the people gave [was] twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.

73So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel [were] in their cities.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nehemiah 7 details the administrative and security measures implemented in Jerusalem after the wall's completion, including the appointment of faithful leaders and gatekeepers. Recognizing the city's sparse population, Nehemiah then undertakes a comprehensive genealogical census, utilizing an existing register of those who first returned from Babylonian captivity. The chapter meticulously lists the families, priests, Levites, and temple servants, concluding with the total number of the congregation and their significant contributions.

Medium Summary

Following the successful completion of Jerusalem's wall and the setting up of its doors, Nehemiah establishes a system of governance and security. He appoints his brother Hanani and Hananiah, a man noted for his faithfulness and fear of God, to oversee the city, giving specific instructions for guarding the gates and appointing watches. Recognizing that Jerusalem was large but sparsely populated with unbuilt houses, Nehemiah was divinely prompted to gather the people for a genealogical reckoning. He discovered an existing register detailing the families and individuals who had initially returned from the Babylonian captivity under Nebuchadnezzar. The bulk of the chapter then meticulously lists these returnees by family, including priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and servants of Solomon, along with their respective numbers. It also notes those who could not prove their Israelite lineage, particularly priests who were consequently barred from their office. The chapter concludes by summing the total congregation, their servants, and animals, and records the significant contributions of gold, silver, and priestly garments made by leaders and the people for the work.

Long Summary

Nehemiah 7 opens with the crucial administrative steps taken after the completion of Jerusalem's wall and the installation of its doors. Nehemiah appointed porters, singers, and Levites, and entrusted the overall charge of the city to his brother Hanani and Hananiah, the ruler of the palace, commending Hananiah for his faithfulness and reverence for God. Specific instructions were issued regarding the city gates, stipulating they should not be opened until the sun was hot and must be securely barred at night, with watches appointed from among the inhabitants, each guarding near his own house. This careful organization was vital given that Jerusalem, though physically large, had a relatively small population and many houses remained unbuilt. Subsequently, Nehemiah felt divinely inspired to gather the nobles, rulers, and the general populace for a genealogical registration. He discovered an ancient register detailing the lineage of those who had first returned from the Babylonian captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away. This extensive record forms the core of the chapter, meticulously listing the families of Israel, along with their numerical strengths, who had come back to Jerusalem and Judah, often specifying their original towns. The register further enumerates the various groups serving the temple: priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and the descendants of Solomon's servants. A notable section addresses those whose lineage was uncertain, particularly certain priestly families who, unable to prove their descent, were deemed "polluted" and consequently excluded from the priesthood. The Tirshatha, or governor, decreed that these priests should not partake of the most holy things until a priest could arise with Urim and Thummim to discern their status. The chapter then provides a grand total for the entire congregation, including their male and female servants, and even lists their various animals such as horses, mules, camels, and asses. The chapter concludes by detailing the generous contributions made by the chief fathers, the Tirshatha, and the rest of the people, donating significant amounts of gold, silver, and priestly garments for the ongoing work. Finally, it notes that the priests, Levites, porters, singers, Nethinims, and all Israel settled in their respective cities by the seventh month.

Core Concepts

  • City Administration and SecurityAfter the wall's completion, Nehemiah established a structured system for governing Jerusalem, appointing trusted leaders like Hanani and Hananiah, and implementing strict security measures for the city gates and watch duties. This ensured the city's safety and order amidst its sparse population.
  • Genealogical ReckoningDriven by divine inspiration, Nehemiah undertook a comprehensive census to register the inhabitants of Jerusalem by their family lineage. This process was crucial for identifying who belonged to the community of Israel and for organizing the city's population.
  • Returnees from CaptivityThe chapter provides an extensive list, drawn from an older register, of the families and individuals who had first returned to Judah and Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This detailed record highlights the foundational community that re-established itself in the land.
  • Priestly Purity and LineageThe importance of verifiable lineage for priests is underscored, as those unable to prove their descent were considered "polluted" and barred from their sacred duties. This emphasizes the strict requirements for temple service and the need for genealogical integrity.
  • Community ContributionsLeaders and the general populace made significant financial and material contributions, including gold, silver, and priestly garments, towards the ongoing work in Jerusalem. This demonstrates the collective commitment to rebuilding and supporting the re-established community.
  • Settlement and Re-establishmentThe chapter concludes with the note that the various groups of returnees—priests, Levites, porters, singers, Nethinims, and the general populace—settled in their respective cities. This signifies the successful re-establishment of the Israelite community in their ancestral lands.