Tuesday
We finish the book of Nehemiah, seeing God’s loyal love in the midst of the rebuilding.
A mixed-bag story of Renewal and Conflict. Leaving those of us following the story seeing the need for true heart change. A longing for the One to come: JESUS.
Prayer:
“My heart is open to You Jesus.
Your Spirit is within me.
Help me be shaped by the story You are telling, Heavenly Father.”
Nehemiah 7
7 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 Israel:
8 the descendants of Parosh2,1729 of Shephatiah37210 of Arah65211 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)2,81812 of Elam1,25413 of Zattu84514 of Zakkai76015 of Binnui64816 of Bebai62817 of Azgad2,32218 of Adonikam66719 of Bigvai2,06720 of Adin65521 of Ater (through Hezekiah)9822 of Hashum32823 of Bezai32424 of Hariph11225 of Gibeon95
26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah18827 of Anathoth12828 of Beth Azmaveth4229 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth74330 of Ramah and Geba62131 of Mikmash12232 of Bethel and Ai12333 of the other Nebo5234 of the other Elam1,25435 of Harim32036 of Jericho34537 of Lod, Hadid and Ono72138 of Senaah3,930
39 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua)97340 of Immer1,05241 of Pashhur1,24742 of Harim1,017
43 The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah)74
44 The musicians:
the descendants of Asaph148
45 The gatekeepers:
the descendants ofShallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai138
46 The temple servants:
the descendants ofZiha, 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 Hatipha
57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
the descendants ofSotai, Sophereth, Perida,58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,59 Shephatiah, Hattil,Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon
60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon392
61 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 ofDelaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda642
63 And from among the priests:
the descendants ofHobaiah, 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,[a] 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[b] 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[c] of gold and 2,200 minas[d] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[e] 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,
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