1
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.2
I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.3
I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” The List of the Exiles Who Returned 4
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.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 the people of Israel:8
the descendants of Parosh 2,1729
Shephatiah 37210
Arah 65211
Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,81812
Elam 1,25413
Zattu 84514
Zakkai 76015
Binnui 64816
Bebai 62817
Azgad 2,32218
Adonikam 66719
Bigvai 2,06720
Adin 65521
Ater (through Hezekiah) 9822
Hashum 32823
Bezai 32424
Hariph 11225
Gibeon 9526
the men of Bethlehem and Netophah 18827
Anathoth 12828
Beth Azmaveth 4229
Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 74330
of Ramah and Geba 62131
of Mikmash 12232
of Bethel and Ai 12333
of the other Nebo 5234
of the other Elam 1,25435
of Harim 32036
of Jericho 34537
of Lod, Hadid and Ono 72138
of Senaah 3,93039
The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 97340
Immer 1,05241
Pashhur 1,24742
Harim 1,01743
The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) 7444
The musicians: the descendants of Asaph 14845
The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 13846
The temple servants: the descendants of 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, Nephusim,53
Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,54
Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,55
Barkos, Sisera, Temah,56
Neziah and Hatipha57
The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,58
Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,59
Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon60
The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 39261
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 Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 64263
And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).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, 7:68 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66 ); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have this verse.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 7:70 That is, about 19 pounds or about 8.4 kilograms 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 7:71 That is, about 375 pounds or about 170 kilograms; also in verse 72 of gold and 2,200 minas 7:71 That is, about 1 1/3 tons or about 1.2 metric tons of silver.72
The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas 7:72 That is, about 1 1/4 tons or about 1.1 metric tons 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. Ezra Reads the Law When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,