Nehemiah 7

2 I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

3 I said to them, "Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day.* And while the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at their regular posts and some in front of their own homes."¹

4 At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small. And only a few houses were scattered throughout the city.

5 So my God gave me the idea to call together all the leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there:

6 "Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity to Jerusalem and to the other towns of Judah. They had been deported to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.

7 Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,* Reelaiah,* Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar,* Bigvai, Rehum,* and Baanah. This is the number of men of Israel who returned from exile:²

8 The family of Parosh 2,172

9 The family of Shephatiah 372

10 The family of Arah 652

11 The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818

12 The family of Elam 1,254

13 The family of Zattu 845

14 The family of Zaccai 760

15 The family of Bani* 648³

16 The family of Bebai 628

17 The family of Azgad 2,322

18 The family of Adonikam 667

19 The family of Bigvai 2,067

20 The family of Adin 655

21 The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) 98

22 The family of Hashum 328

23 The family of Bezai 324

24 The family of Jorah* 112⁴

25 The family of Gibbar* 95⁵

26 The peoples of Bethlehem and Netophah 188

27 The people of Anathoth 128

28 The people of Beth-azmaveth 42

29 The peoples of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743

30 The peoples of Ramah and Geba 621

31 The people of Micmash 122

32 The peoples of Bethel and Ai 123

33 The people of Nebo 52

34 The citizens of Elam 1,254

35 The citizens of Harim 320

36 The citizens of Jericho 345

37 The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 721

38 The citizens of Senaah 3,930

39 "These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973

40 The family of Immer 1,052

41 The family of Pashhur 1,247

42 The family of Harim 1,017

43 "These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah*) 74⁶

44 The singers of the family of Asaph 148

45 The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 138

46 "The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Siaha,* Padon,⁷

48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai,

49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,*⁸

53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54 Bazluth,* Mehida, Harsha,⁹

55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56 Neziah, and Hatipha.

57 "The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Sophereth, Peruda,*¹⁰

58 Jaalah,* Darkon, Giddel,¹¹

59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.*¹²

60 "In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants numbered 392.

61 "Another group returned to Jerusalem at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan,* and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.¹³

62 This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda--a total of 642 people.

63 "Three families of priests--Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai--also returned to Jerusalem. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.)

64 But they had lost their genealogical records, so they were not allowed to serve as priests.

65 The governor would not even let them eat the priests' share of food from the sacrifices until there was a priest who could consult the LORD about the matter by means of sacred lots.*¹⁴

66 "So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah,

1: Or Keep the gates of Jerusalem closed until the sun is hot.

2: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:2; Hebrew reads Azariah.

3: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:10; Hebrew reads Binnui.

4: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:18; Hebrew reads Hariph.

5: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:20; Hebrew reads Gibeon.

6: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:40; Hebrew reads Hodevah.

7: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:44; Hebrew reads Sia.

8: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:50; Hebrew reads Nephushesim.

9: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:52; Hebrew reads Bazlith.

10: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:55; Hebrew reads Perida.

11: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:56; Hebrew reads Jaala.

12: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:57; Hebrew reads Amon.

13: As in parallel text at Ezra 2:59; Hebrew reads Addon.

14: Hebrew consult the Urim and Thummim about the matter.

^{New Living Translation Bible and Notes used with permission Tyndale House Publishers.}