Nehemiah 7

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,

When the wall was finally complete, and I'd installed the doors, and assigned roles to the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites, a sense of accomplishment and peace washed over me.

That 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.

I entrusted my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the palace chief, with the responsibility of Jerusalem. They were chosen because Hananiah was deeply loyal and his reverence for God was greater than most.

And 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.

I told them, "Don't open Jerusalem's gates until the sun is high and hot. As they wait, let them close and secure the doors. Assign each Jerusalem resident a shift to guard, each one protecting their own home."

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

The city was vast and magnificent, yet it felt empty. Few people lived there, and many homes remained unfinished.

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,

God inspired me to gather the nobles, leaders, and people, to register them by their family lines. I found the family record of those who had come back first, and this is what was written in it:

These 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;

These are the people of the province who came back from exile, from those King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried away. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own hometown, filled with hope and resilience.

Who 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;

They came back with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of the people of Israel:

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

The offspring of Parosh, a grand total of 2,172.

The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

Shephatiah's lineage was vast, with a total of 372 descendants.

The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.

The descendants of Arah, a group of 652 souls.

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

The descendants of Pahathmoab, born from the lineage of Jeshua and Joab, numbered a heartfelt total of two thousand, eight hundred and eighteen.

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

The offspring of Elam numbered a heartfelt 1,254.

The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.

The descendants of Zattu, a staggering 845 in number.

The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

Zaccai's descendants numbered seven hundred and sixty, each one a unique blessing.

The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

Binnui's offspring, a robust clan of 648 strong.

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

Bebai's descendants numbered 628, each one a unique, vibrant life.

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

The offspring of Azgad, a grand total of 2,322 souls.

The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

Adonikam's offspring, a vibrant group of 667.

The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

The descendants of Bigvai numbered 2,067, each with their own unique stories and lives.

The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

The descendants of Adin, a vibrant group of 655 souls.

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

The descendants of Ater, under Hezekiah's lineage, numbered ninety-eight.

The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.

Hashum's offspring, a vibrant group of 328.

The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

The offspring of Bezai, a vibrant group of 324 souls.

The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

The descendants of Hariph numbered 112.

The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.

Ninety-five spirited people came from Gibeon.

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

188 men from Bethlehem and Netophah, filled with determination and faith.

The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

128 men hailed from the humble town of Anathoth.

The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.

Forty-two devoted men hailed from Bethazmaveth.

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

The men from Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth numbered 743, each with their own stories and lives.

The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

621 strong and faithful men hailed from the towns of Ramah and Gaba.

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

122 brave souls hailed from Michmas.

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

123 men from Bethel and Ai, filled with courage and determination.

The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.

From the other Nebo came fifty-two spirited men.

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

The offspring of the other Elam numbered a heartfelt 1,254.

The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

Harim's lineage boasted of 320 vibrant souls.

The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

From Jericho came 345 people.

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

The offspring of Lod, Hadid, and Ono numbered 721, each one unique and precious.

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

The offspring of Senaah, a grand total of 3,930, filled with vibrant life and energy.

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

The spiritual leaders, descendants of Jedaiah from the lineage of Jeshua, numbered 973 in total.

The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

The offspring of Immer, a grand total of 1,052, filled with hope and promise.

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

Pashur's offspring numbered a grand total of 1,247.

The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

The offspring of Harim, a heartfelt count of one thousand and seventeen.

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

The Levites, the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, including those from the lineage of Hodevah, numbered seventy-four, each with a heart full of devotion.

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

The choir: 148 descendants of Asaph, passionately singing their hearts out.

The 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.

The gatekeepers: Shallum's descendants, Ater's offspring, Talmon's lineage, Akkub's progeny, Hatita's kin, and Shobai's family, all together, a total of 138.

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

The humble Nethinims: offspring of Ziha, descendants of Hashupha, lineage of Tabbaoth, all bound by a shared heritage.

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

The offspring of Keros, the descendants of Sia, and the lineage of Padon, all bound by a shared heritage and destiny.

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

The offspring of Lebana, the descendants of Hagaba, the lineage of Shalmai, all filled with hope, love, and faith.

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

The offspring of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, and the lineage of Gahar, all filled with hope, pride, and a sense of belonging.

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

The offspring of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, and the lineage of Nekoda, all carry their ancestors' legacy in their hearts.

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

The offspring of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, and the lineage of Phaseah,

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

The offspring of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, and the lineage of Nephishesim, all filled with their unique hopes, dreams, and fears.

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

The offspring of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, and the lineage of Harhur, all shared a common bond.

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

The offspring of Bazlith, Mehida, and Harsha, each with their unique identities and stories, filled with hope, love, and faith.

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

The offspring of Barkos, Sisera's lineage, and Tamah's descendants, all intertwined in the tapestry of life.

The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

The offspring of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.

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

The descendants of Solomon's servants: those from the lineage of Sotai, the offspring of Sophereth, and the progeny of Perida.

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

The offspring of Jaala, Darkon, and Giddel, each with their unique identities and stories, filled with hope, fear, joy, and sorrow.

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

The offspring of Shephatiah, Hattil's descendants, the lineage of Pochereth of Zebaim, and Amon's progeny.

All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

The humble Nethinims, along with the descendants of Solomon's servants, numbered a total of 392 souls.

And 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.

These were the ones who journeyed from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. Yet, they couldn't trace their lineage or prove if they were descendants of Israel.

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

The descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda numbered 642, each with their own stories and lives.

And 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.

Among the priests were the descendants of Habaiah, Koz, and Barzillai. One of them married a daughter from the Gileadite branch of the Barzillai family, and they proudly carried on the Barzillai name.

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

They searched for their ancestral records among those documented, but found nothing. Thus, they were considered tainted and were excluded from serving as priests.

And 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.

The governor urged them not to eat the most sacred food until a priest was present who could consult God with the Urim and Thummim.

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

The entire community gathered was a staggering 42,360 strong.

Beside 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.

In addition to their male and female servants, numbering 7,337, they also had 245 talented men and women who filled their halls with beautiful music.

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

They had 736 majestic horses and 245 sturdy mules.

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

They had 435 camels, majestic and enduring, and a massive herd of 6,720 donkeys, braying and bustling with life.

And 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.

Some of the community leaders generously contributed to the cause. The governor himself donated a thousand gold coins, fifty bowls, and five hundred and thirty robes for the priests to the treasury.

And 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.

Some of the community leaders generously donated to the project, giving twenty thousand pieces of gold and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver, their hearts filled with joy and pride.

And 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.

The remaining people generously donated 20,000 units of gold, 2,000 pounds of silver, and 67 sets of priestly robes, all given with heartfelt devotion.

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; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, common people, Nethinims, and all of Israel settled in their own cities. By the time the seventh month arrived, every child of Israel was comfortably living in their hometown.