39 These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973 40 The family of Immer 1,052 41 The family of Pashhur 1,247 42 The family of Harim 1,017 43 These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah ) 74 44 The singers of the family of Asaph 148 45 The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 138 46 The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47 Keros, Siaha, Padon, 48 Lebanah, Hagabah, 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 these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 58 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami. 60 In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants numbered 392. 61 Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel. 62 This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda-a total of 642Â people. 63 Three families of priests-Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai-also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.) 64 They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests. 65 The governor told them not to eat the priests' share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim-the sacred lots. 66 So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah, 67 in addition to 7,337 servants and 245Â singers, both men and women. 68 They took with them 736Â horses, 245Â mules, 69 435Â camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70 Some of the family leaders gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold coins, 50Â gold basins, and 530Â robes for the priests. 71 The other leaders gave to the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins and some 2,750 pounds of silver for the work. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, about 2,500 pounds of silver, and 67Â robes for the priests. 73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel. In October, when the Israelites had settled in their 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!