The List of Returning Exiles

5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there: 6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 7 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah): The list of the men of Israel: 8 the descendants of Parosh, 2,172 9 of Shephatiah, 372 10 of Arah, 652 11 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818 12 of Elam, 1,254 13 of Zattu, 845 14 of Zaccai, 760 15 of Binnui, 648 16 of Bebai, 628 17 of Azgad, 2,322 18 of Adonikam, 667 19 of Bigvai, 2,067 20 of Adin , 655 21 of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98 22 of Hashum, 328 23 of Bezai, 324 24 of Hariph, 112 25 of Gibeon, 95 26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah , 188 27 of Anathoth , 128 28 of Beth Azmaveth, 42 29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth , 743 30 of Ramah and Geba, 621 31 of Micmash, 122 32 of Bethel and Ai , 123 33 of the other Nebo, 52 34 of the other Elam, 1,254 35 of Harim, 320 36 of Jericho , 345 37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono , 721 38 of Senaah, 3,930 39 The priests: 40 of Immer, 1,052 41 of Pashhur, 1,247 42 of Harim, 1,017 43 The Levites: 44 The musicians: 45 The gatekeepers: 46 The temple servants: 47 Keros, Sia, Padon, 48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim, 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56 Neziah and Hatipha 57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, 60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon , 392 61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel: 62 the descendants of 63 And from among the priests: 64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. 66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[1] 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. 70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[2] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[3] of gold and 2,200 minas[4] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[5] of silver and 67 garments for priests. 73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:5-73

Commentary on Nehemiah 7:5-73

(Read Nehemiah 7:5-73)

Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves, and their substance, to his service and glory!