1When the wall had been rebuilt and I had positioned the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hanani and Hananiah the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do. 3I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened in the early morning, until those who are standing guard close the doors and lock them. Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard stations and some near their homes.” 4Now the city was spread out and large, and there were not a lot of people in it. At that time houses had not been rebuilt. 5My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record:

6These are the people of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own city. 7They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The number of Israelite men was as follows:

8the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;

9the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;

10the descendants of Arah, 652;

11the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;

12the descendants of Elam, 1,254;

13the descendants of Zattu, 845;

14the descendants of Zaccai, 760;

15the descendants of Binnui, 648;

16the descendants of Bebai, 628;

17the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;

18the descendants of Adonikam, 667;

19the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;

20the descendants of Adin, 655;

21the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;

22the descendants of Hashum, 328;

23the descendants of Bezai, 324;

24the descendants of Harif, 112;

25the descendants of Gibeon, 95;

26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;

27the men of Anathoth, 128;

28the men of the family of Azmaveth, 42;

29the men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743;

30the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;

31the men of Micmash, 122;

32the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;

33the men of the other Nebo, 52;

34the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;

35the descendants of Harim, 320;

36the descendants of Jericho, 345;

37the descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;

38the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.

39The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua), 973;

40the descendants of Immer, 1,052;

41the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;

42the descendants of Harim, 1,017.

43The Levites:

the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodaviah), 74.

44The singers:

the descendants of Asaph, 148.

45The gatekeepers:

the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138.

46The temple servants:

the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, 47the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon, 48the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai, 49the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, 50the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, 51the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, 52the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim, 53the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, 54the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, 55the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, 56the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.

57The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida, 58the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, 59the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon.

60All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon, 392.

61These are the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify their family connection or their ancestry, as to whether they were really from Israel):

62the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642.

63And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a woman from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). 64They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood. 65The governor instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.

66The entire group numbered 42,360, 67not counting their 7,337 male and female servants. They also had 245 male and female singers. 68They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70Some of the family leaders contributed to the work. The governor contributed to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. 71Some of the family leaders gave to the project treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. 72What the rest of the people gave amounted to 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.

73The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all the rest of Israel lived in their cities.

The People Respond to the Reading of the Law

When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites were settled in their cities,