Securing the City

1 Now when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God above many. 3 I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and one near his own house.”

Cencus of First Returned Exiles

4 Now the city was wide and large, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

5 My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles and the rulers and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who had returned first, and I found this written in it:

6 These are the descendants of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city, 7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel:

8 The descendants of Parosh: 2,172.
9 The descendants of Shephatiah: 372.
10 The descendants of Arah: 652.
11 The descendants of Pahathmoab, of the descendants of Jeshua and Joab: 2,818.
12 The descendants of Elam: 1,254.
13 The descendants of Zattu: 845.
14 The descendants of Zaccai: 760.
15 The descendants of Binnui: 648.
16 The descendants of Bebai: 628.
17 The descendants of Azgad: 2,322.
18 The descendants of Adonikam: 667.
19 The descendants of Bigvai: 2,067.
20 The descendants of Adin: 655.
21 The descendants of Ater: of Hezekiah, 98.
22 The descendants of Hashum: 328.
23 The descendants of Bezai: 324.
24 The descendants of Hariph: 112.
25 The descendants of Gibeon: 95.
26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah: 188.
27 The men of Anathoth: 128.
28 The men of Beth Azmaveth: 42.
29 The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: 743.
30 The men of Ramah and Geba: 621.
31 The men of Michmas: 122.
32 The men of Bethel and Ai: 123.
33 The men of the other Nebo: 52.
34 The descendants of the other Elam: 1,254.
35 The descendants of Harim: 320.
36 The descendants of Jericho: 345.
37 The descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 721.
38 The descendants of Senaah: 3,930.

The Priests

39 The priests: The descendants of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua: 973.
40 The descendants of Immer: 1,052.
41 The descendants of Pashhur: 1,247.
42 The descendants of Harim: 1,017.

The Levites

43 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodevah: 74.
44 The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 148.
45 The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai: 138.

The Temple Servants

46 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha,
the descendants of Hasupha,
the descendants of Tabbaoth,
47 the descendants of Keros,
the descendants of Sia,
the descendants of Padon,
48 the descendants of Lebana,
the descendants of Hagaba,
the descendants of Salmai,
49 the descendants of Hanan,
the descendants of Giddel,
the descendants of Gahar,
50 the descendants of Reaiah,
the descendants of Rezin,
the descendants of Nekoda,
51 the descendants of Gazzam,
the descendants of Uzza,
the descendants of Paseah.
52 The descendants of Besai,
the descendants of Meunim,
the descendants of Nephushesim,
53 the descendants of Bakbuk,
the descendants of Hakupha,
the descendants of Harhur,
54 the descendants of Bazlith,
the descendants of Mehida,
the descendants of Harsha,
55 the descendants of Barkos,
the descendants of Sisera,
the descendants of Temah,
56 the descendants of Neziah,
and the descendants of Hatipha.

Descendants of Solomon’s Servants

57 The descendants of Solomon’s servants:
the descendants of Sotai,
the descendants of Sophereth,
the descendants of Perida,
58 the descendants of Jaala,
the descendants of Darkon,
the descendants of Giddel,
59 the descendants of Shephatiah,
the descendants of Hattil,
the descendants of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and
the descendants of Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants were 392.

61 These were the ones who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not verify their family name, or their ancestry, whether they were of Israel.

62 The descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, the descendants of Nekoda: 642.

Priests who Could Not Find their Pedigree

63 Of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah,
the descendants of Hakkoz,
the descendants of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

64 These searched for their genealogical records, but could not find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood. 65 The governor told that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.

Accounting of People and Offerings

66 The whole assembly together was 42,366, 67 in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337. They had 245 singing men and singing women. 68 Their horses were 736; their mules, 245; 69 their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.

70 Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 21 pounds of gold, 50 basins, and 530 priests’ garments. 71 Some of the family leaders gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 silver minas. 72 That which the rest of the people gave was 20,000 gold coins, plus 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priests’ garments.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their cities.

When the seventh month had come, the Israelites were in their cities.

«       »

Site Footer

Sliding Sidebar

  • Who’s His Favorite

    One of the best known Bible passages is the story of Jesus calling Peter, […]

  • Your Superpower to...

    Superpower The Creator of galaxies, of earth with its millions of species […]

  • Downsize and...

    So now you’re pretty sure you’re going to do this thing…you’re […]