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
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Nehemiah 7
Commentary on Nehemiah 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
The success of one good design for God and our generation should encourage us to proceed and form some other; Nehemiah did so, having fortified Jerusalem with gates and walls, his next care is,
Neh 7:1-4
God saith concerning his church (Isa. 62:6), I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem! This is Nehemiah's care here; for dead walls, without living watchmen, are but a poor defence to a city.
Neh 7:5-73
We have here another good project of Nehemiah's; for wise and zealous men will be always contriving something or other for the glory of God and the edification of his church. He knew very well that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the number and valour of the inhabitants than upon the height or strength of its walls; and therefore, observing that the people were few that dwelt in it, he thought fit to take an account of the people, that he might find what families had formerly had their settlement in Jerusalem, but were now removed into the country, that he might bring them back, and what families could in any other way be influenced by their religion, or by their business, to come and rebuild the houses in Jerusalem and dwell in them. So little reason have we to wish that we may be placed alone in the earth, or in Jerusalem itself, that much of our safety and comfort depends upon our neighbours and friends; the more the stronger, the more the merrier. It is the wisdom of the governors of a nation to keep the balance even between the city and country, that the metropolis be not so extravagantly large as to drain and impoverish the country, nor yet so weak as not to be able to protect it. Now observe,