Number of Those Returning

1Now these are [a]the people of the province [of Judah] who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had deported to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. 2These came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, [b]Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, [c]Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3the sons (descendants) of Parosh, 2,172; 4the sons of Shephatiah, 372; 5the sons of Arah, 775; 6the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812; 7the sons of Elam, 1,254; 8the sons of Zattu, 945; 9the sons of Zaccai, 760; 10the sons of Bani, 642; 11the sons of Bebai, 623; 12the sons of Azgad, 1,222; 13the sons of Adonikam, 666; 14the sons of Bigvai, 2,056; 15the sons of Adin, 454; 16the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98; 17the sons of Bezai, 323; 18the sons of Jorah, 112; 19the sons of Hashum, 223; 20the sons of Gibbar, 95; 21the men of Bethlehem, 123; 22the men of Netophah, 56; 23the men of Anathoth, 128; 24the sons of Azmaveth, 42; 25the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743; 26the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621; 27the men of Michmas, 122; 28the men of Bethel and Ai, 223; 29the sons of Nebo, 52; 30the sons of Magbish, 156; 31the sons of the other Elam, 1,254; 32the sons of Harim, 320; 33the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725; 34the men of Jericho, 345; 35the sons of Senaah, 3,630.

Priests Returning

36The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973; 37the sons of Immer, 1,052; 38the sons of Pashhur, 1,247; 39the sons of Harim, 1,017.

Levites Returning

40The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. 41The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. 42The sons of the gatekeepers: of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, in all 139.

43The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 44the sons of Keros, Siaha, Padon, 45the sons of Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, 46the sons of Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, 47the sons of Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, 48the sons of Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, 49the sons of Uzza, Paseah, Besai, 50the sons of Asnah, Meunim, Nephisim, 51the sons of Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 52the sons of Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 53the sons of Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 54the sons of Neziah, Hatipha.

55The sons of [King] Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, Hassophereth (Sophereth), Peruda, 56the sons of Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, 57the sons of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, Ami.

58All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.

59Now these are the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not provide evidence of their fathers’ households and their descendants, whether they were of Israel: 60the sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 652.

Priests Removed

61Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, of Hakkoz, and of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was known by their name. 62These searched [for their names] among those registered in the genealogies, but they were not found; so they were excluded from the priesthood as [ceremonially] unclean. 63The [d]governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things [the priests’ food] until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim [who by consulting these articles in his breastplate could [e]determine God’s will in the matter].

64The whole assembly totaled 42,360, 65besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337; and [among them] they had 200 male and female singers. 66Their horses totaled 736; their mules, 245; 67their camels totaled 435; their donkeys, 6,720.

68Some of the [f]heads of the fathers’ households (extended families), when they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, made voluntary contributions for the house of God to rebuild it on its [old] foundation. 69They gave according to their ability to the treasury for the work, 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly [linen] garments.

70So the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled in their [own] cities, and all Israel [gradually settled] into their cities.

[a] 1 Tens of thousands of the Jews returned, but many of the exiles declined the offer and remained in Babylon.
[b] 2 Not the author of the Book of Nehemiah.
[c] 2 Not the relative of Esther.
[d] 63 Heb Tirshatha, a Persian title. Probably either Sheshbazzar or Zerubbabel.
[e] 63 But the effort doubtless would have been in vain. Long-standing disobedience had apparently caused Israel’s priests to forfeit the divine gift of guidance through Urim and Thummim, and it was never recovered. Except for a similar incident in Neh 7:65, Urim and Thummim are not again mentioned in the Scriptures. The higher revelation by the prophets superseded them as interpreters of the will of God (see also Ex 28:30; Amos 3:7).
[f] 68 I.e. patriarchs.