Nehemiah 7:32
New International Version
of Bethel and Ai 123

New Living Translation
The people of Bethel and Ai 123

English Standard Version
The men of Bethel and Ai, 123.

Berean Standard Bible
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

King James Bible
The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

New King James Version
the men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three;

New American Standard Bible
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

NASB 1995
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

NASB 1977
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

Legacy Standard Bible
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

Amplified Bible
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

Christian Standard Bible
Bethel’s and Ai’s men 123

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Bethel’s and Ai’s men 123

American Standard Version
The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three.

English Revised Version
The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
of Bethel and Ai 123

International Standard Version
People from Bethel and Ai: 123

Majority Standard Bible
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

NET Bible
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

New Heart English Bible
The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three.

Webster's Bible Translation
The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred and twenty three.

World English Bible
The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty-three;

Young's Literal Translation
Men of Bethel and Ai: a hundred twenty and three.

Smith's Literal Translation
The men of the house of God and Ai, a hundred twenty and three.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The men of Bethel and Hai, a hundred twenty-three.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty-three.

New American Bible
people of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three;

New Revised Standard Version
Of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty-three.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The men of Beth-el and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The men of Beyth Eil and Ai, a hundred and twenty and three.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The men of Baethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The List of Returning Exiles
31the men of Michmash, 122; 32the men of Bethel and Ai, 123; 33the men of the other Nebo, 52;…

Cross References
Ezra 2:34
the men of Jericho, 345;

Nehemiah 11:33
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

Joshua 18:25-28
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, / Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, / Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, ...

1 Chronicles 9:3-6
Some of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: / Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah. / From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. ...

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

Ezra 2:1
Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

Nehemiah 11:1-2
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns. / And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11:20
The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.

Nehemiah 11:25-30
As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages; / in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet; / in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages; ...

Nehemiah 12:27-30
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. / The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, / from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. ...

Nehemiah 3:13-14
The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it, installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. / The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

Nehemiah 3:28-30
Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house. / Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs. / Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters.

Nehemiah 6:2
Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

Nehemiah 12:44-47
And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving. / They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. / For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ...

Nehemiah 13:10-14
I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. / So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts, / and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

Beth-el

Joshua 8:9,17
Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people…

Ezra 2:28
The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

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Ai Bethel Beth-El Hundred Three Twenty Twenty-Three
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Ai Bethel Beth-El Hundred Three Twenty Twenty-Three
Nehemiah 7
1. Nehemiah commits the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah
5. A register of the genealogy of them which came at the first out of Babylon
9. of the people
39. of the priests
43. of the Levites
46. of the Nethinims
57. of Solomon's servants
63. and of the priests which could not find their pedigree
66. The whole number of them, with their substance
70. Their offerings














the men of Bethel and Ai,
Bethel and Ai are two significant locations in biblical history. Bethel, meaning "House of God," was a major religious site, first mentioned in Genesis when Jacob had his dream of a ladder reaching to heaven. Ai, meaning "heap of ruins," was the site of an early Israelite victory under Joshua after an initial defeat due to Achan's sin. These cities were located near each other in the central hill country of Canaan, north of Jerusalem. The mention of these men highlights the continuity of Israelite presence and worship in these historically significant locations. The return of the exiles to these areas underscores the restoration of Israel's spiritual and national identity.

123;
The specific number of 123 men from Bethel and Ai indicates a precise record-keeping practice during the post-exilic period. This enumeration reflects the importance of each family and group in the restoration community. It also emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promise to bring His people back to their land, as prophesied in books like Jeremiah and Isaiah. The detailed census serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and the re-establishment of the covenant community in the land of their ancestors.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nehemiah
The central figure in the book, Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who played a crucial role in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His leadership and dedication to God's work are central themes in the book.

2. Bethel
A town in the territory of Benjamin, Bethel holds historical significance as a place where God appeared to Jacob. It was a center of worship and later became associated with idolatry.

3. Ai
A city near Bethel, Ai is known for its defeat by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership. It represents both a place of initial failure and eventual victory for Israel.

4. The Men of Bethel and Ai
This group of 123 men is part of the larger assembly of Israelites returning from exile. Their inclusion highlights the restoration of the community and the reestablishment of their heritage.

5. The Census
Nehemiah 7 records a census of the people who returned from exile. This list underscores the importance of community and identity in the restoration of Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Community
The inclusion of the men of Bethel and Ai in the census highlights the value of each individual in the community of God's people. Every person has a role in the restoration and building of God's kingdom.

Heritage and Identity
The return of the exiles to their ancestral lands underscores the importance of heritage and identity in God's plan. Believers today are called to remember their spiritual heritage and identity in Christ.

God's Faithfulness in Restoration
The rebuilding of Jerusalem and the return of the exiles demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises. This encourages believers to trust in God's restorative work in their own lives.

Repentance and Obedience
The history of Ai serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of repentance and obedience. Believers are called to examine their lives and align with God's will.

The Role of Leadership
Nehemiah's leadership in organizing the census and rebuilding efforts highlights the importance of godly leadership. Believers are encouraged to seek and support leaders who prioritize God's purposes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the men
אַנְשֵׁ֤י (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of
בֵֽית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Bethel
אֵל֙ (’êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah

and Ai,
וְהָעָ֔י (wə·hā·‘āy)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city

123;
מֵאָ֖ה (mê·’āh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 3967: A hundred


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OT History: Nehemiah 7:32 The men of Bethel and Ai (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 7:31
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