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Nehemiah 7

W
The Whosoever Study Bible
Whosoever will, may come.
the book of nehemiah
Nehemiah · c. 420 BC
Chapter the Seventh
Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 
That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 
And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. 
Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. 
And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, 
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; 
Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this; 
The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. 
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 
The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 
The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 
The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 
The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 
The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. 
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. 
The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. 
The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. 
The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. 
The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. 
The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 
The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. 
The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. 
The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. 
The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. 
The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight. 
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. 
The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two. 
The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. 
The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 
The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two. 
The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three. 
The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. 
The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 
The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 
The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 
The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. 
The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 
The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 
The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 
The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 
The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 
The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. 
The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight. 
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, an hundred thirty and eight. 
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 
The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 
The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 
The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 
The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 
The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 
The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 
The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 
The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 
The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 
The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 
The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 
The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 
All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 
And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. 
The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. 
And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. 
These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 
And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. 
The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 
Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women. 
Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: 
Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses. 
And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. 
And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver. 
And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments. 
So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. 
HOW TO USE
PROVISIONIST · DISPENSATIONAL · PRE-TRIBULATIONAL
Chuck Smith · Sunday Nights, 1979 to 1985 (C2000)
Nehemiah 1-7
Tape C2080 · 1:04:44
Permission granted by The Word For Today
Chuck Smith · Sunday Nights, 1985 to 1999 (C3000)
Nehemiah 7-9
Tape C3151 · 1:10:55
Permission granted by The Word For Today
Raul Ries · Through the Bible
Nehemiah 6-7
51:27
Permission granted by Pastor Raul Ries

Chuck Smith on Nehemiah 7

Verse by verse, taught on Sunday nights: the C2000 series, 1979 to 1985, and the C3000 series, 1985 to 1999. Permission granted by The Word For Today.

Sunday Nights, 1979 to 1985 (C2000)

Chapter introduction

Now in chapter 7:

Verses 1–2

It came to pass, when the wall was built, and the doors, the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, that he gave his brother Hanani (7:1-2),

Now this is the one who had come to Babylon and told him of the sad condition of Jerusalem and of the people.

Verses 2–3

He gave them charge over Jerusalem: to these faithful men, who feared God above many. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is up (7:2-3);

And before the sun goes down make sure that the gates are closed that the inhabitants of Jerusalem might actually dwell safely within its walls.

Now beginning with verse 5, you have actually a repetition of Ezra chapter 2. For this is a list of the registry that they found of the people who returned at the beginning when Cyrus had allowed some 49,000 or so of them to return. This is the same register that is given in Ezra 2, the families that came, the numbers of the family and the items that they brought with them.

Sunday Nights, 1985 to 1999 (C3000)

Chapter introduction

Let’s turn now to Nehemiah as we continue our study in chapter seven.

Verse 1

Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed (7:1).

That is they were fulfilling their function now in the ministry in the temple.

Verse 2

That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many (7:2).

Now it was this brother of Nehemiah who had come to Nehemiah in Persia. Nehemiah was inquiring of him the condition of Jerusalem, the people that were there. It was this brother of Nehemiah that told him of the fact that this place was a shambles and that the people were demoralized. He was the one that really brought Nehemiah up to speed on what was happening, which caused Nehemiah’s tremendous burden and desire to go back and lead in the rebuilding of the walls.

Nehemiah has now finished the task and he makes his brother ruler of the palace and in charge over Jerusalem because of his faithfulness and because of his fear of God above the others.

Verses 3–4

And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded (7:3-4).

Nehemiah is taking now the practical steps for defense of the city. Each man is appointed a turn to watch at night on the walls. The area of his watch was to be near his house and of course it was a rotating kind of a thing as they establish their defense against the marauding neighbors.

Verse 5

And God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned [counted] by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at first, and found written therein, (7:5).

Verse 64

The first migration back into the land, the one we read about in Ezra. This is the copy of that record but Ezra has already given to us the copy of the record. In as much as we have the same record in the book of Ezra and it’s just the names of the families and the individuals, the leaders who had come back from the Babylonian captivity. In as much as many of these names are almost unpronounceable and in as much as if we did pronounce them they wouldn’t mean anything to you, we’re not going to go through and try to pronounce the names of all of these families and the individuals who had come back. Just notice that there are categories of the general people. Then with verse thirty-nine, the category of the priest. Then verse forty-three of the Levites and verse forty-six of the Nethinims and verse fifty-seven of the children Solomon’s servants. Then in verse sixty-three again the mention of the priests and “those that sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found:” (7:64).

Certain men were claiming to be Levites of the priestly family but they could not find their genealogies, they could not prove through genealogy their claim to priesthood. Thus they were not allowed to function as priests until they could find their genealogies or prove the fact that they were of the Levites. So as someone said they couldn’t prove genuine Levi jeans and so they weren’t allowed to exercise the ministry of priests.

They also determined that when the priesthood was established and again they would be able to use Urim and Thummim, that perhaps by this they could find out if they were true Levites and had a right to minister as priests.

The Urim and Thummim were worn by the high priest, they were a part of the priestly garments of the high priest and they were a method of defining the will of God. Just what they were is not known for certain. It is a matter of speculation. Some believe that it was just a little pouch that the priests wore in conjunction with his breastplate that had a white stone and a black stone. They would pray and ask God to guide in the question that was asked to give them an answer from him and the priest would pull out one of the stones. The white stone would indicate the answer yes and the black stone would indicate the answer no. That’s one suggestion, very possibly correct. They say that that’s where we get the phrase “black balled”. The little black stone came out and thus you were rejected.

The words in Hebrew mean lights and perfections. Just what they were for certain we don’t know but we do know that they use them to define the will of God. They would inquire of the high priest of the Urim and Thummim for the mind and the will of the Lord.

So we get the total number of those that came back with the first migration back in verse sixty-six was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty beside the servants of which there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. Then there were two hundred and forty-five in the worship community, the singing men and women. They had of course gives them the number of horses and camels and all, which have no import to us.