39 Priestly families: Jedaiah (sons of Jeshua), 973 40 Immer, 1,052 41 Pashhur, 1,247 42 Harim, 1,017. 43 Levitical families: Jeshua (sons of Kadmiel and of Hodaviah), 74. 44 Singers: Asaph's family line, 148. 45 Security guard families: Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, 138. 46 Families of support staff: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47 Keros, Sia, Padon, 48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephussim, 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56 Neziah, and Hatipha. 57 Families of Solomon's servants: Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Amon. 60 The Temple support staff and Solomon's servants added up to 392. 61 These are those who came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. They weren't able to prove their ancestry, whether they were true Israelites or not: 62 The sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 642. 63 Likewise with these priestly families: -The sons of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and took that name. 64 They looked high and low for their family records but couldn't find them. And so they were barred from priestly work as ritually unclean. 65 The governor ruled that they could not eat from the holy food until a priest could determine their status by using the Urim and Thummim. 66 The total count for the congregation was 42,360. 67 That did not include the male and female slaves who numbered 7,337. There were also 245 male and female singers. 68 And there were 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70 Some of the heads of families made voluntary offerings for the work. The governor made a gift to the treasury of 1,000 drachmas of gold (about nineteen pounds), 50 bowls, and 530 garments for the priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families made gifts to the treasury for the work; it came to 20,000 drachmas of gold and 2,200 minas of silver (about one and a third tons). 72 Gifts from the rest of the people totaled 20,000 drachmas of gold (about 375 pounds), 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 garments for the priests. 73 The priests, Levites, security guards, singers, and Temple support staff, along with some others, and the rest of the People of Israel, all found a place to live in their own towns.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:39-73
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!