1The number that return of the people, 36of the priests, 40of the Levites, 43of the Nethinims, 55of the children of Solomon's servants, 61of the priests who could not shew their pedigree. 64The whole number of them with their substance. 68Their oblations for the building of the temple.
1NOW these are the 1children of the province that went up out of the captivity, 2of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
1 That is, who dwelt a long time in Babylon or Chaldea, whereas the other Israelites were scattered into various lands. Other, children of the province or of the region, that is, born in the land of the Jews, or who were descended thence, as this phrase may signify both, inhabitation or birth. Compare Neh. 7:6.
2 Hebr. of the carrying away, or, banishment, removing.
2Which came with 3Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the 4people of Israel:
3 See Ezra 1 on verse 8. He is called Zorobabel in Mat. 1:13. Jeshua (otherwise, Joshua) was priest. See Ezra 3:2, 9; Hag. 1:1. These were heads and leaders of the people, with the other rulers named herewith. Compare this register (which some perceive to have been made in Babylon) with that other, Neh. 7:6, 7, etc., which seems to have been made (or at least to have been reviewed) in Judah, within a while after the arrival; there is some difference both in regard of names and of number, because some of those who were set down peradventure tarried behind or died by the way, and others arrived afterward and were added to the number, as in such expeditions is wont to be done. Some names are also diversely recorded in both places, as the reader may perceive by comparing both.
4 Of the common people of Israel, who went up under the leadership of the forenamed heads.
3The 5children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
5 That is, the posterity, and so in the following verses.
4The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
5The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
6The children of Pahath-moab, of the children 6of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
6 Other, of Jeshua-Joab.
7The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
9The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
10The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
12The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
13The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
15The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
16The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
17The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
18The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.
19The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
20The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
21The children of 7Beth-lehem, an hundred twenty and three.
7 That is, inhabitants or natives of Bethlehem. Also in some following verses men or people of this or that place; likewise verse 25, etc., children of these and those places. Compare verse 1.
22The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
23The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
24The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
25The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
26The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
27The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.
28The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
29The children of 8Nebo, fifty and two.
8 Usually otherwise called in Scripture Nob, a city of the priests, situated in Benjamin. See 1 Sam. 21:1; Neh. 11:32. There was another city of the same name in the tribe of Reuben, Num. 32:37, 38. Wherefore this is called the other Nebo, Neh. 7:33.
30The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.
31The children of the 9other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
9 Of another than that which is mentioned in verse 7.
32The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
35The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
36¶The priests: 10the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
10 See 1 Chron. 24:7.
37The children of 11Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
11 See 1 Chron. 24:14.
38The children of 12Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
12 Who was the most important one among the posterity of Malchijah. See 1 Chron. 9:12; 24:9.
39The children of 13Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
13 See 1 Chron. 24:8. It is observable that of the four and twenty orders or courses, made and ordained in David’s time, there are no more that four mentioned here, whereunto some do add the fifth, namely, the house of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak. Of some restoration of the courses see Nehemiah 12.
40¶The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
41¶The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
42¶The children of 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, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
43¶The 14Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
14 That is, given, or, given up; understand the Gibeonites, who, having preserved their lives by craft, were appointed for servile work to Israel and to the house of God. See Joshua 9:21, 23.
44The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
47The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
51The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
54The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55¶The children of Solomon’s 15servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
15 Who, being the remnant that were left of the pagan nations, were made servants and bondmen by king Solomon. See 1 Kings 9:20, 21.
56The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
58All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
59And these were they which went up from 16Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, 17Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their 18seed, whether they were of Israel:
16 These two, Telmelah and Telharsa, are held to be names of places where they had dwelt, in Babylon and Mesopotamia.
17 Understand with their families. Some perceive that these three were names of persons who went up with their families. Others hold that they were likewise names of places, and that the persons are related in the following verse.
18 That is, their family, race, pedigree.
60The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
61¶And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
62These sought their 19register 20among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but 21they were not found: therefore were they, 22as polluted, put from the priesthood.
19 Hebr. writing. Understand the genealogies, which God at that time has wanted to keep to the end that it might be known of what family the Messiah would come, and that the priesthood, until the coming of Christ, might continue in Aaron’s line.
20 Or, desiring to show their pedigree.
21 Namely, their names, or persons, or ancestors.
22 Hebr. they were polluted from the priesthood; that is, they were pronounced to be imperfect and not qualified for the priesthood, and were consequently removed from it.
63And the 23Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the 24most holy things, till there stood up a 25priest with Urim and with Thummim.
23 Some hold this to be a Persian name of some certain office or service, as ambassador, commissioner, deputy or governor of the king, namely, Sheshbazzar. See Ezra 1 on verse 8. Nehemiah is likewise so called, Neh. 8:9; 10:1.
24 Hebr. holiness of holinesses. Understand that which fell to be the priests’ part or portion of the offerings.
25 Understand the high priest, arrayed with Urim and Thummim to ask counsel of the Lord in obscure and difficult matters. See Num. 27:21.
64¶The whole congregation 26together was 27forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
26 Hebr. as one.
27 Counting among them also those who were not able to show their pedigree, or were not of Israel. Hebr. four millions two thousand, etc.
65Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred 28singing men and singing women.
28 Whom they had taken along with them to praise God for His mercy, and to exercise them in holy music, which was neglected during the captivity.
66Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
67Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68¶And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came 29to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
29 That is, when they came to the place where the house of the Lord had been, and was to be built again.
69They gave after their ability unto the 30treasure of the work threescore and one thousand 31dramsa of gold, and five thousand 32poundb of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
30 To be kept in the treasury of the sanctuary for the building of the temple. See 1 Chron. 26:20, 26.
31One dram was (according to the opinion of the learned) the weight of the fourth part of a shekel, or of a French crown. See 1 Chron. 29 on verse 7. Also that this sum amounted to threescore and one thousand French crowns. Hebr. six millions and thousand.
a OT weight (Heb. adarkon): 0.31 ounce or 8.8 grams, often in coin form (darics, drachmae)*
32 Hebr. manim, that is, minas. See of this weight 1 Kings 10:17; 2 Chron. 9:16; Neh. 7:71, 72. Of Ezekiel’s mina see Ezek. 45:12.
b OT weight (Heb. maneh): 300 shekels; 6.6 pounds or 3 kilograms
70So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the 33people, and the singers, and the porters, and the 34Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
33 Of the Levites, namely, the singers, etc., together with others of the congregation, as Solomon’s servants, etc. See Neh. 10:28; 11:3; 2 Chron. 23 on verse 5.
34 See of these on verse 43.