Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Nehemiah » Chapter 7 » Verse 1-73

Nehemiah 7:1-73 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now it came to pass, when the wall H2346 was built, H1129 and I had set up H5975 the doors, H1817 and the porters H7778 and the singers H7891 and the Levites H3881 were appointed, H6485

2 That I gave my brother H251 Hanani, H2607 and Hananiah H2608 the ruler H8269 of the palace, H1002 charge H6680 over Jerusalem: H3389 for he was a faithful H571 man, H376 and feared H3372 God H430 above many. H7227

3 And I said H559 unto them, Let not the gates H8179 of Jerusalem H3389 be opened H6605 until the sun H8121 be hot; H2527 and while they stand by, H5975 let them shut H1479 the doors, H1817 and bar H270 them: and appoint H5975 watches H4931 of the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 every one H376 in his watch, H4929 and every one H376 to be over against his house. H1004

4 Now the city H5892 was large H7342 H3027 and great: H1419 but the people H5971 were few H4592 therein, H8432 and the houses H1004 were not builded. H1129

5 And my God H430 put H5414 into mine heart H3820 to gather together H6908 the nobles, H2715 and the rulers, H5461 and the people, H5971 that they might be reckoned by genealogy. H3187 And I found H4672 a register H5612 of the genealogy H3188 of them which came up H5927 at the first, H7223 and found H4672 written H3789 therein,

6 These are the children H1121 of the province, H4082 that went up H5927 out of the captivity, H7628 of those that had been carried away, H1473 whom Nebuchadnezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had carried away, H1540 and came again H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 and to Judah, H3063 every one H376 unto his city; H5892

7 Who came H935 with Zerubbabel, H2216 Jeshua, H3442 Nehemiah, H5166 Azariah, H5838 Raamiah, H7485 Nahamani, H5167 Mordecai, H4782 Bilshan, H1114 Mispereth, H4559 Bigvai, H902 Nehum, H5149 Baanah. H1196 The number, H4557 I say, of the men H582 of the people H5971 of Israel H3478 was this;

8 The children H1121 of Parosh, H6551 two H8147 thousand H505 an hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and two. H8147

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

10 The children H1121 of Arah, H733 six H8337 hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and two. H8147

11 The children H1121 of Pahathmoab, H6355 of the children H1121 of Jeshua H3442 and Joab, H3097 two thousand H505 and eight H8083 hundred H3967 and eighteen. H8083 H6240

12 The children H1121 of Elam, H5867 a thousand H505 two hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and four. H702

13 The children H1121 of Zattu, H2240 eight H8083 hundred H3967 forty H705 and five. H2568

14 The children H1121 of Zaccai, H2140 seven H7651 hundred H3967 and threescore. H8346

15 The children H1121 of Binnui, H1131 six H8337 hundred H3967 forty H705 and eight. H8083

16 The children H1121 of Bebai, H893 six H8337 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight. H8083

17 The children H1121 of Azgad, H5803 two H8147 thousand H505 three H7969 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and two. H8147

18 The children H1121 of Adonikam, H140 six H8337 hundred H3967 threescore H8346 and seven. H7651

19 The children H1121 of Bigvai, H902 two thousand H505 threescore H8346 and seven. H7651

20 The children H1121 of Adin, H5720 six H8337 hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and five. H2568

21 The children H1121 of Ater H333 of Hezekiah, H2396 ninety H8673 and eight. H8083

22 The children H1121 of Hashum, H2828 three H7969 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight. H8083

23 The children H1121 of Bezai, H1209 three H7969 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and four. H702

24 The children H1121 of Hariph, H2756 an hundred H3967 and twelve. H8147 H6240

25 The children H1121 of Gibeon, H1391 ninety H8673 and five. H2568

26 The men H582 of Bethlehem H1035 and Netophah, H5199 an hundred H3967 fourscore H8084 and eight. H8083

27 The men H582 of Anathoth, H6068 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight. H8083

28 The men H582 of Bethazmaveth, H1041 forty H705 and two. H8147

29 The men H582 of Kirjathjearim, H7157 Chephirah, H3716 and Beeroth, H881 seven H7651 hundred H3967 forty H705 and three. H7969

30 The men H582 of Ramah H7414 and Geba, H1387 six H8337 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and one. H259

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

32 The men H582 of Bethel H1008 and Ai, H5857 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and three. H7969

33 The men H582 of the other H312 Nebo, H5015 fifty H2572 and two. H8147

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

35 The children H1121 of Harim, H2766 three H7969 hundred H3967 and twenty. H6242

36 The children H1121 of Jericho, H3405 three H7969 hundred H3967 forty H705 and five. H2568

37 The children H1121 of Lod, H3850 Hadid, H2307 and Ono, H207 seven H7651 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and one. H259

38 The children H1121 of Senaah, H5570 three H7969 thousand H505 nine H8672 hundred H3967 and thirty. H7970

39 The priests: H3548 the children H1121 of Jedaiah, H3048 of the house H1004 of Jeshua, H3442 nine H8672 hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and three. H7969

40 The children H1121 of Immer, H564 a thousand H505 fifty H2572 and two. H8147

41 The children H1121 of Pashur, H6583 a thousand H505 two hundred H3967 forty H705 and seven. H7651

42 The children H1121 of Harim, H2766 a thousand H505 and seventeen. H7651 H6240

43 The Levites: H3881 the children H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 of Kadmiel, H6934 and of the children H1121 of Hodevah, H1937 seventy H7657 and four. H702

44 The singers: H7891 the children H1121 of Asaph, H623 an hundred H3967 forty H705 and eight. H8083

45 The porters: H7778 the children H1121 of Shallum, H7967 the children H1121 of Ater, H333 the children H1121 of Talmon, H2929 the children H1121 of Akkub, H6126 the children H1121 of Hatita, H2410 the children H1121 of Shobai, H7630 an hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and eight. H8083

46 The Nethinims: H5411 the children H1121 of Ziha, H6727 the children H1121 of Hashupha, H2817 the children H1121 of Tabbaoth, H2884

47 The children H1121 of Keros, H7026 the children H1121 of Sia, H5517 the children H1121 of Padon, H6303

48 The children H1121 of Lebana, H3838 the children H1121 of Hagaba, H2286 the children H1121 of Shalmai, H8014

49 The children H1121 of Hanan, H2605 the children H1121 of Giddel, H1435 the children H1121 of Gahar, H1515

50 The children H1121 of Reaiah, H7211 the children H1121 of Rezin, H7526 the children H1121 of Nekoda, H5353

51 The children H1121 of Gazzam, H1502 the children H1121 of Uzza, H5798 the children H1121 of Phaseah, H6454

52 The children H1121 of Besai, H1153 the children H1121 of Meunim, H4586 the children H1121 of Nephishesim, H5300 H5304

53 The children H1121 of Bakbuk, H1227 the children H1121 of Hakupha, H2709 the children H1121 of Harhur, H2744

54 The children H1121 of Bazlith, H1213 the children H1121 of Mehida, H4240 the children H1121 of Harsha, H2797

55 The children H1121 of Barkos, H1302 the children H1121 of Sisera, H5516 the children H1121 of Tamah, H8547

56 The children H1121 of Neziah, H5335 the children H1121 of Hatipha. H2412

57 The children H1121 of Solomon's H8010 servants: H5650 the children H1121 of Sotai, H5479 the children H1121 of Sophereth, H5618 the children H1121 of Perida, H6514

58 The children H1121 of Jaala, H3279 the children H1121 of Darkon, H1874 the children H1121 of Giddel, H1435

59 The children H1121 of Shephatiah, H8203 the children H1121 of Hattil, H2411 the children H1121 of Pochereth of Zebaim, H6380 the children H1121 of Amon. H526

60 All the Nethinims, H5411 and the children H1121 of Solomon's H8010 servants, H5650 were three H7969 hundred H3967 ninety H8673 and two. H8147

61 And these were they which went up H5927 also from Telmelah, H8528 Telharesha, H8521 Cherub, H3743 Addon, H114 and Immer: H564 but they could H3201 not shew H5046 their father's H1 house, H1004 nor their seed, H2233 whether they were of Israel. H3478

62 The children H1121 of Delaiah, H1806 the children H1121 of Tobiah, H2900 the children H1121 of Nekoda, H5353 six H8337 hundred H3967 forty H705 and two. H8147

63 And of the priests: H3548 the children H1121 of Habaiah, H2252 the children H1121 of Koz, H6976 the children H1121 of Barzillai, H1271 which took H3947 one of the daughters H1323 of Barzillai H1271 the Gileadite H1569 to wife, H802 and was called H7121 after their name. H8034

64 These sought H1245 their register H3791 among those that were reckoned by genealogy, H3187 but it was not found: H4672 therefore were they, as polluted, H1351 put from the priesthood. H3550

65 And the Tirshatha H8660 said H559 unto them, that they should not eat H398 of the most H6944 holy things, H6944 till there stood H5975 up a priest H3548 with Urim H224 and Thummim. H8550

66 The whole congregation H6951 together H259 was forty H702 H7239 and two thousand H505 three H7969 hundred H3967 and threescore, H8346

67 Beside their manservants H5650 and their maidservants, H519 of whom there were seven H7651 thousand H505 three H7969 hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and seven: H7651 and they had two hundred H3967 forty H705 and five H2568 singing men H7891 and singing women. H7891

68 Their horses, H5483 seven H7651 hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and six: H8337 their mules, H6505 two hundred H3967 forty H705 and five: H2568

69 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

70 And some of H7117 the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 gave H5414 unto the work. H4399 The Tirshatha H8660 gave H5414 to the treasure H214 a thousand H505 drams H1871 of gold, H2091 fifty H2572 basons, H4219 five H2568 hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 priests' H3548 garments. H3801

71 And some of the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 gave H5414 to the treasure H214 of the work H4399 twenty H8147 thousand H7239 drams H1871 of gold, H2091 and two thousand H505 and two hundred H3967 pound H4488 of silver. H3701

72 And that which the rest H7611 of the people H5971 gave H5414 was twenty H8147 thousand H7239 drams H1871 of gold, H2091 and two thousand H505 pound H4488 of silver, H3701 and threescore H8346 and seven H7651 priests' H3548 garments. H3801

73 So the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and the porters, H7778 and the singers, H7891 and some of the people, H5971 and the Nethinims, H5411 and all Israel, H3478 dwelt H3427 in their cities; H5892 and when the seventh H7637 month H2320 came, H5060 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were in their cities. H5892

Commentary on Nehemiah 7 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible


Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 7

Nehemiah having built the wall, and set up the doors, appointed two persons to take the charge of the city, and set watches for the safety of it, and to take special care about opening and shutting the gates of it, Nehemiah 7:1, and concerned he was for the peopling of it, and having found a register of the first comers to it, gives their names, Nehemiah 7:4 and some account of the freewill offerings made for the work they came about, Nehemiah 7:70.


Verse 1

Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors,.... Which was not done when Sanballat sent his first letter, but now was, Nehemiah 6:1,

and the porters and the singers, and the Levites were appointed; not to attend the doors of the gates of the wall, but to return to their service in the temple, who had been employed in one thing or another, while the wall and gates were building and repairing; see Nehemiah 3:17.


Verse 2

That I gave my brother Hanani,.... Who first brought him the melancholy account of the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 1:2,

and Hananiah the ruler of the palace; the king's palace, in which the viceroy of the king of Persia dwelt, and now Nehemiah; to these two men he gave

charge over Jerusalem; committed it to their care during his absence, who may be supposed now to return to Persia, as he had promised, Nehemiah 2:6,

for he was a faithful man; this is said of Hananiah, and given as a reason why such a trust was committed to him; Hanani's character was well known, and his journey from Jerusalem to Shushan was a full proof of his hearty concern for the interest of it:

and feared God above many; Hananiah was exemplary in his fear of God, few were equal to him, and none exceeded him; or of many days, as Jarchi; of a long time he had feared the Lord, and served him many years.


Verse 3

And I said unto them, let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot,.... Or until the heat of the day, or near noon; at least not till the sun had been up some time, and shone out clearly, and caused much heat; that if any enemies were near, or lying in wait, they might be discovered, and the inhabitants also up and ready to defend themselves:

and while they stand by; according to Aben Ezra, Hanani and Hananiah were to be present at the opening and shutting of the gates, and so Grotius; but these being the chief rulers, it is not likely; but rather those whom they appointed to look after them, these were to stand by while their servants did it; they were not to leave it wholly to them, but to see it done themselves:

let them shut the doors, and bar them; or "lay hold"F1ואחזו "et tractate", Junius & Tremellius; "contrectate eas", Piscator. on them, handle them to see whether they are shut fast or not:

and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be over against his house; no foreigners were to be of the watch, only inhabitants, and those everyone in their turn, and to be placed over against where they dwelt; and so it might be thought would be the more careful and diligent in their watch.


Verse 4

Now the city was large and great,.... The circumference of it, all within the wall; for that was built on its old foundation, and enclosed as much ground as ever it did: HecataeusF2Apud Euseb. Praepar. par. Evangel. l. 9. c. 4. p. 408. & apud Joseph. contr. Apion, l. 1. c. 22. , an Heathen writer, says the circumference of Jerusalem was fifty furlongs, which was more than six miles; but JosephusF3De Bell. Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 3. makes the circuit of it but thirty three furlongs or about six miles:

but the people were few therein; in comparison of the largeness of the place; for though there were 42,360 that came up at first with Zerubbabel, and many more with Ezra, yet a great number chose to settle in the towns and cities in the country, Jerusalem being in such a desolate condition:

and the houses were not builded; some were, but they were but few, many of them still lay in ruins.


Verse 5

And my God put into mine heart,.... Every good motion in him, and whatever he thought of that was conducive to the good and welfare of Jerusalem, Nehemiah always ascribed it to God; see 2 Corinthians 3:5

to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy; that their number might be known, and of what families they were, and in what cities they formerly dwelt; and this was not only of use for the present purpose of Nehemiah, but was of service hereafter to show the pedigree of families, and that it might be clearly known from whence the Messiah sprung:

and I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first; from Babylon to Jerusalem, along with Zerubbabel, as appears from Nehemiah 7:7, and this was of great use to him, whereby he would know not only their names and number, but to what city they belonged, and who to the city of Jerusalem, that they might be called upon to come, and rebuild their houses, and take up their residence there:

and found written therein; the names of the persons and families after mentioned.


Verses 6-69

These are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity,.... Who were of the province of Judea, as it was now reduced, and came up out of the captivity of Babylon through the edict of Cyrus; see Ezra 2:1, where the same preface is given to the list of names as here; and from hence to the end of Nehemiah 7:69 the same account is given of persons and families as there, with some little difference of numbers and names; in some instances there are more in this list, in others fewer, which may be thus accounted for; that list was made in Babylon, when, upon the edict of Cyrus, the Jews, who intended to go up with Zerubbabel, gave in their names, and they were registered; but this was made when they came to Jerusalem; now some of those that gave in their names changed their minds, and tarried in Babylon, and some might die by the way, which makes the numbers fewer in some instances; and others who did not give in their names at first, but, being better disposed towards their own country, followed after and joined those which were returning, and increased the number of others; to which may be added what Abendana observes, that in Ezra an account is given of those that came out of the captivity by the companies, in which they came not genealogized, and had a mixture of persons of other families in them, and some that had no genealogy; but afterwards, when they were genealogized according to their families, a register of their genealogies was made, and is what Nehemiah now found, and here gives; and, as for difference of names, that may be owing to the carelessness of copiers, or to the different pronunciation of names, or some men might have two names; the matter is of no great moment.


Verse 70

And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work,.... Of building the city and the temple, and for that service, Ezra 2:68,

the Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drachms of gold; each of which was one pound sterling, and so amounted to so many pounds: of these "dracmons", or "darics", a Persian coin, mention is made in Ezra 2:69, they were golden staters, or shekels and had their name as is said, not from Darius, the father of Xerxes, though it is certain, from HerodotusF4Melpomene, sive, l. 4. c. 166. , that he coined golden money; but from some other king of the same name, more ancientF5Scholiast. in Aristoph. Eccles. p. 741, 742. So Harpocration. Lexic. in voce δαρδικος, and Suidas on the same word. , which must be Darius the Mede; and if they are the same with the Adarcon in Ezra 8:27 as they seem to be, then those in 1 Chronicles 29:7 were pieces of money not so called in the times of David, but of Ezra, the writer of that book: whether this Tirshatha was Zerubbabel, or Nehemiah, is not easy to say, since this donation is not the same with that in Ezra, not made at the same time nor are the gifts the same, nor the persons that gave them. Zerubbabel was Tirshatha when the Jews came out of Babylon, and Nehemiah now:

fifty basins; which were vessels, in the which the blood of the sacrifices was received and out of which it was sprinkled:

five hundred and thirty priests' garments; which were laid up in the wardrobe, and used on occasion.


Verse 71

And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work,.... To be put into the treasure, out of which the expenses of the temple, and service of it were defrayed:

twenty thousand drachms of gold; which were so many pounds of our money, and somewhat more: for, according to Bishop CumberlandF6Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 4. p. 115. , a drachm of gold was of the value of twenty shillings and four pence: and 2200 pounds of silver; "the maneh", or pound, with the Jews, was of the value of sixty shekels, Ezekiel 45:12 and so is reckoned by our BrerewoodF7De Ponder & Pret. Vet. Num. c. 4. to be of our money seven pounds and ten shillings; he reckoning a shekel at half a crown, whereas it was little more than two shillings and four pence; and so sixty of them, or a "maneh", came to about seven pounds; wherefore this sum here was seven times so many pounds of silver.


Verse 72

And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drachms of gold,.... Worth as many pounds of our money, and somewhat more:

and two thousand pound of silver; of which See Gill on Nehemiah 7:71,

and threescore and seven priests' garments; having been so long in Babylon, and no use of sacrifices, and so not of garments to minister in, no care was taken to provide any; which seems to be the reason why so many were given, when they returned to their own land, and sacrificed.


Verse 73

So 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,.... The same is said in Ezra 2:70; see Gill on Ezra 2:70,

and, when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities; the month Tisri, answering to part of September, in which month was the feast of tabernacles; at this time of the year they were in their cities when they came forth out of Babylon, and so they were now; see Ezra 3:1.